The provision of school-based counselling services is crucial due to rising mental health issues among young people. The right hon. Member underlines that more than two thirds of young people prefer accessing mental health support without going through their GP, and advocates for a consistent service provided by trained professionals, either in the voluntary sector or via government-led initiatives.

The hon. Member raises concern about the steeper increase in mental health challenges faced by girls compared to boys during their secondary school years, suggesting that proper counselling in schools could prevent many issues from developing.

The hon. Member suggests that when the Government replies, they should listen to charities and organisations with extensive knowledge of mental health priorities for children, to develop a strategic approach to address these issues effectively.

The right hon. Friend underscores the economic benefits of targeted investment in early intervention for young people's mental health, arguing that it fosters productive and stable members of society.

She acknowledges the importance of schools in addressing mental health issues, citing personal experience with anxiety and depression. She highlights the inadequacy of current child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and the need for wider support systems within schools. Crouch discusses the varying levels of support available across different types of schools and stresses the need for ringfenced funding, mandatory training in mental health first aid, curriculum resources for teaching mental health skills, and a review of designated mental health lead roles.

Wilson supports Crouch's stance on the need to reduce stigma around mental health and enhance school-based support. She also emphasises the importance of community-based mental health hubs as a complement to school-based counselling, acknowledging that not all young people will feel comfortable accessing services through their schools.

A silent mental health epidemic is sweeping through schools. The number of young people with probable mental health disorders has been rising since 2017, affecting one in six young people aged between six and 19 currently. Schools should be part of the solution for children from unstable backgrounds who are at risk due to fear and stigma. Early intervention could save lives, yet current provisions are insufficient and outdated. Employing fully trained counsellors in every school is a viable solution that centralises services and reaches those not supported under current models. The proposed funding would cost only £554 million annually compared with the £1.4 billion currently spent on CAMHS. Mental health should be mandatory, just as basic first aid training and kits are expected for physical safety.

The pandemic's impact on children’s mental health is severe with a 7% rise in self-harm among girls aged 11 to 16 since 2017 and a 60% increase in referrals for mental health treatment. Schools like Stewards Academy benefit from services such as Place2Be, highlighting the need for prevention and resilience building through techniques to manage anxieties and familiarise pupils with high-pressure environments. Extending school days could reduce mental health disorders by up to 20% and boost numeracy skills by 29%. A £100 million levy on social media giants could fund mental health support in schools, addressing harmful content that damages young people’s mental wellbeing.

Congratulates his right hon. Friend for securing the debate and discusses the increasing number of young people feeling low due to mental health issues, citing a report by King’s College London and Oxford University on pandemic's impact on young people's mental health. Emphasises that 50% of mental health problems develop before age 14 and 75% before age 24, highlighting the need for early interventions in schools as an economic issue. Critiques current CAMHS setup, recommending school-based counselling and open access to community-based mental health services. Advocates for mandatory school-based counselling with links into local communities, praising local organisations like U Care Share and Think Positive PACT House that provide support to young people and families affected by mental illness.

Congratulates the right hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East on securing the debate and speaks as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on youth affairs and MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, highlighting significant challenges faced by young people in care and mental health issues impacting educational outcomes. Mentions CAMHS being overstretched and welcomes recommendations from the national food strategy about access to nutritious food. Acknowledges the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College’s safeguarding, counselling, and wellbeing team receiving a national award for their emotional well-being project and supports core funding for mental health counselling and safeguarding provision in schools and colleges.

Acknowledges the importance of mental health support teams being rolled out quickly due to the high level of mental health issues faced by students and teachers. Emphasises that catch-up funding must provide holistic support including for mental health, as teachers are struggling.

Maskell emphasised the importance of early intervention and holistic approaches to address rising mental health issues among children and young people. She highlighted statistics such as one in nine children having a diagnosable mental health condition pre-pandemic, which rose to one in six due to the pandemic. Additionally, she noted that 25% of 17-year-olds have self-harmed, and 7% attempted suicide. Maskell criticised the limited budget for child mental health services, with only £55 per child allocated, leading to long wait times for treatment. She also discussed the challenges faced by schools in providing adequate support due to staff shortages and confidentiality issues. She called on the Minister to focus on training professionals like school counsellors and implementing a proper workforce plan.

Miriam Cates, a former secondary school science teacher, highlights the importance of students being ready to learn emotionally and mentally. She discusses deeper issues such as low self-esteem, chaotic home life, abuse, and sexual exploitation over the internet that hinder learning. She supports having mental health professionals in every school but emphasises the need for professional registration and adherence to guidance. Cates expresses concern about organisations like Stonewall and Mermaids teaching extreme ideologies without a basis in science and potentially violating Department for Education (DFE) guidelines. She raises issues of safeguarding, particularly regarding gender identity counselling that can lead to irreversible medical treatments for children.