The announcement coincides with the start of Mental Health Awareness Week.

The Welsh Labour Government has today announced £3.75 million of funding for mental health in schools that will include new support for children under the age of 11.

School counselling services currently provide direct support to young people from the age of 11, or Year 6, up to the age of 18. The funding announced today will extend support to provide mental and emotional support to children younger than Year 6.

Around 11,500 young people each year access lower-level mental health support, outside specialist NHS provision, in schools and community counselling services.

£450,000 will also go towards supporting the mental health and well-being of the school workforce. The Welsh Labour Government is working with partners to develop further plans on how that support will be delivered.

The funding is in addition to £1.25m announced last month, for local authorities to deliver counselling services in schools, taking the total support to £5m this financial year.

Welsh Labour Health Minister, Vaughan Gething, said:

“With the necessary restrictions on young people’s lives due to coronavirus, including less time with their friends and other family members, we must be prepared for an impact on children’s emotional wellbeing.

 

So it’s important we continue to invest in mental health support for our young people during these very difficult times.”