Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Mental Health Training in Schools

Monday 17 April 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is offering senior mental health lead training to state schools and colleges since September 2021.
  • Mental health support teams have increased from 287 in 2022 to 400 in 2023, with plans for 500 in 2024.
  • The Department is working on a new suicide prevention strategy to be published in the current year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Giles Watling Con
Education Mental Health
Context

The question arises from efforts to improve mental health services for school children.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to increase mental health training in schools. More than half of all state schools and colleges have received senior mental health lead training since September 2021, with teams increasing from 287 in 2022 to 400 in 2023.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

My Department is helping schools develop effective approaches by offering senior mental health lead training. Over half of state schools and colleges have received this since September 2021. Mental health support teams are increasing from 287 in 2022 to 400 in 2023, with plans for 500 in 2024.

Answered
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Q2 Giles Watling Con
Mental Health Children & Families
Context

The question stems from the need for further mental health support efforts and awareness.

Question

Will she commit to meeting Baton of Hope to further its efforts to improve children's access to mental health support?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care on reducing youth suicides. We will publish a new suicide prevention strategy this year. I met Mike McCarthy from Baton of Hope when I was Minister for care and mental health, and my successor would welcome its input.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to meeting with Baton of Hope UK

How: My Successor Would Welcome

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Q3 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Education Mental Health
Context

An investigation found that a quarter of a million children referred to the NHS for mental health were denied treatment or redirected elsewhere due to high caseloads.

Question

Will she assure the House that the mental health support teams in schools programme will continue and reach every school in the country?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The programme is continuing up to 2024. We are evaluating its success and will put the case forward for continuing the roll-out, as it helps more children access lower-level mental health support such as group sessions and one-to-one help.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment beyond 2024

How: We Are Evaluating Its Success

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