School counselling in holidays crucial for children’s mental health, says Commissioner’s new report

Children should be able to access school counsellors outwith school hours and during the holidays to combat increasing mental health issues, according to a new investigation by teenagers.

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Children should be able to access school counsellors outwith school hours and during the holidays to combat increasing mental health issues, according to a new investigation by teenagers.

Young Advisors to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland used the office’s powers of investigation to examine the provision of counselling services in secondary schools. It is believed to be the first time young people anywhere in the world have used a children’s commissioner’s legal powers to lead an investigation.

The group of Mental Health Investigators – aged between 14 and 17 and from all over Scotland – worked with the Commissioner’s staff to plan the investigation, decide what evidence was needed from local authorities, access and evaluate that evidence, and make recommendations.

The Mental Health Investigators presented their report to the Convenor of the Education, Children and Young People Committee, Sue Webber MSP and Convenor of the Health Committee, Clare Haughey at the Scottish Parliament.

Children have the right to the best possible health, including mental health. The Investigators were concerned that already stretched mental health services for children were under even more pressure because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The decision to focus on mental health was also informed by the impact of increased levels of stress and anxiety experienced by children and young people during and after the pandemic.

Data was requested from all 32 local authorities by summer 2022, but one did not have school counselling services in place until January 2022 so was unable to respond. After examining the evidence from the 31 authorities who responded, the Mental Health investigators have recommended: