Need for school counsellors to prevent young people reaching crisis point

In response to the worsening mental health situation for children and young people in England, Citizens UK, the largest civil society federation across the UK, has allied with the NASUWT, BACP, NAHT, NCPS and Parentkind to campaign for a fair, workable and long-term solution.

We ask the next government to legislate for the statutory provision of counselling by specialist children and young people counsellors or psychotherapists to address the mental health needs of pupils in primary and secondary schools and FE colleges in England, or wherever a child is educated within the state system. 

We know from our work with BACP (British Society for Counselling and Psychotherapy) that there is a workforce with the skills, experience and capacity to take on these professional roles.

Even before COVID, children and young people were suffering from diagnosable mental health conditions - anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Their mental health conditions worsen through extended wait times for treatment in overstretched NHS services across England.