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Jim Shannon intervened, supporting Chris Bloore's points by discussing statistics showing lower levels of general wellbeing among disabled pupils in Northern Ireland. He suggested that access to pastoral care teams equipped and trained to help those with disabilities could address this issue.
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Anna Dixon intervened, agreeing with Bloore's points about the importance of mental health support for children and young people. She highlighted concerns from her constituents in Shipley about long waiting times for NHS appointments, impacting their ability to participate fully in school activities.
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Chris Vince intervened, agreeing with Bloore's view that there is a connection between mental and physical health. He emphasised the impact of poor physical health on mental health and vice versa among young people.
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Dr Danny Chambers asked how increased mental health care could be afforded, to which Bloore responded that timely support is actually cost-effective in the long term. He argued for early prevention and intervention as a necessity.
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Liz Twist paid tribute to the 3 Dads Walking initiative, emphasising its role in keeping mental health issues on the agenda and combating the misconception that discussing suicide can increase its likelihood.
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Supports the view that schools are at the forefront of the mental health crisis facing children. Visited a local primary school where staff help young people talk about their mental health issues. Stressed the importance of adequate resources for schools to provide such support.
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Emphasised that 78% of all staff and 84% of senior leaders are stressed in education settings, which hinders their ability to do high-quality work. Advocated for a whole-of-Government approach addressing housing issues, family difficulties, healthcare access problems, and bullying prevention.
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Praised the campaign in Brighton and Hove which secured funding for counselling capacity in local schools. Welcomed Government pledges to introduce mental health professionals in every school and hoped for real investment in a national school counselling programme.
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Stressed the foundational nature of good mental health and wellbeing. Acknowledged that challenges with mental health affect all aspects of life, from personal relationships to work performance. Emphasised the importance of addressing these issues early.
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The hon. Member for Horsham emphasised financial pressures impacting CAMHS funding, noting a 15% mandated reduction in Sussex despite modest fee increases. He highlighted rising demand and adverse effects on waiting times since the pandemic, urging for central Government intervention to address an unfit-for-purpose system that is damaging children's futures.
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The hon. Member for Ashford stressed the need for early mental health intervention, citing record high CAMHS referrals and examples of young people whose lives could have been transformed with timely support. He called for more community-based mental health services like Young Futures hubs to ensure children receive necessary help.
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The hon. Member for Stafford shared a real-life example of a young woman who had left education due to lack of support, underscoring the need for early intervention in schools to prevent crisis.
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Highlights the urgent need for action on mental health in education settings, citing statistics indicating that one in eight UK children live with a mental health condition. Supports funding for mental health support teams but calls for expansion to reach all schools and students.
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Emphasises the importance of early intervention and peer-to-peer discussions about mental health in educational settings. Stresses the impact of the global pandemic on young people's mental health, noting that 60% of UK children aged 11-16 have received negative comments about their appearance.
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Draws attention to younger and younger children experiencing mental health issues due to social media access, highlighting the need for early intervention and resilience-building in young people.
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Stresses the need to prioritise early intervention in schools and calls for full-time mental health practitioners in every primary and secondary school. Expresses frustration over current implementation of mental health support teams, noting that only 44% of children have access and many receive inadequate time with MHSTs.
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Acknowledges rising rates of probable mental health disorders among children and young people. Discusses university students' increased anxiety during the pandemic, highlighting sevenfold increase in mental health conditions since a decade ago. Questions Minister on steps taken to support university-bound individuals with existing or emerging mental health issues.
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The hon. Member questioned the Minister about the level of resource expected for mental health support in every school, suggesting that the current commitment falls short compared to having properly qualified counsellors available on-site.
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In conclusion, Chris Bloore thanked the Minister and acknowledged various contributions made by Members from different constituencies regarding mental health support in educational settings. He highlighted the importance of early intervention and cross-Government working to address this issue effectively.