Best Practice

Turning mental health support in schools on its head

As CAMHS delays continue to stack up, schools are taking it upon themselves to transform provision and safeguard children’s mental health and wellbeing, says Andy Mellor


Imagine a child in year 7 at your school – let’s call them Jesse – who has suddenly become anxious in lessons or has started falling out with their peers.

Teachers have been working with Jesse’s parents to address the issues behind this but there has been little change in the situation and Jesse is reluctant to access the school counselling services available. What is the next step?

A referral would often be made to the child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), but schools know it can be months before a pupil might get their first appointment – up to eight months in some areas according to a recent BBC Freedom of Information request (Triggle, 2021).

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