As millions of children prepare for the return to school, new polling has found that almost half of children aged 12 to 18 are experiencing sadness or feeling anxious once a week or more, while almost two thirds (66%) feel sad or anxious once a month or more.
As part of an online YouGov poll commissioned by Barnardo’s, the UK’s largest children’s charity, over three fifths (61%) of parents with school aged children experiencing mental health difficulties said this was negatively affecting their children’s performance at school. 61% of this group also noted that this has led to low self-esteem, while almost half (49%) said their child finds it hard to concentrate or focus on learning due to their mental health issues.
With school attainment now seeming to suffer as a result of children’s poor mental health, Barnardo’s is calling on the government to increase and accelerate the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools in England, so that no child or young person’s education is left in the balance from poor mental health.
Only just over a third (34%) of children and young people aged 12 to 18 responding to the poll said there is a mental health specialist in their school. This lack of support was evidenced by new analysis of Government figures by Barnardo’s, which found that 6.5 million children will not have access to an MHST by 2023 under current Government plans, despite growing numbers experiencing mental health issues nationwide.
Almost three quarters (73%) of parents with school aged children (ages 5 to 18) said that there should be more funding for school-based counselling to support children experiencing issues with their mental health. Similarly, over three quarters (76%) of children ages 12 – 18 said that it is or would be helpful for children to be able to discuss their sadness or anxieties with a mental health professional at their school.
Barnardo’s CEO, Lynn Perry MBE, said:
“Today’s findings show that on top of the crisis facing children’s mental health, there is now a very real risk to their education.
“Without swift action to provide mental health support teams in every school, children who are struggling from anxiety and other challenges will not be able to thrive in the classroom.
“We know from our direct experience delivering services across the UK that many more children are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing as a result of the pandemic, and those who were already vulnerable for other reasons are most in need of help.
“With both the candidates to be our next Prime Minister committed to improving opportunities for young people, we urge the Government to act quickly to accelerate the rollout of Mental Health Support Teams across all schools in England, so that every child can access the support they need to focus on their studies and work towards a positive future”
MHSTs work with children and young people, their families and school staff to support those with mental health needs, help schools prioritise wellbeing and signpost links to community and health services.
Present Government plans aim to ensure that 36% of schools have an MHST by 2023. According to NHS data, approximately 1 in 6 children in England have a probable mental health disorder.
See how some of our practitioners work with children experiencing mental health and wellbeing difficulties in this video.
Find out more about our mental health and wellbeing services.