Forty-eight per cent of schools and colleges in England are receiving support from a Mental Health Support Team (MHST), including 78% of state-funded secondary schools, DfE data has shown.
MHSTs provide support and extra capacity for early intervention and help for mild to moderate mental health issues and support the promotion of good mental health and wellbeing.
The DfE says that coverage could increase to 66% of pupils and learners and 53% of schools and colleges by 31 March 2027 if conditions remain the same.
A DfE survey of schools and colleges supported by an MHST showed that 92% of respondents ‘strongly’ or ‘somewhat’ agreed that their MHST had provided beneficial mental health and wellbeing support.
87% of respondents ‘strongly’ or ‘somewhat’ agreed that their MHST helped improve the school’s or college’s overall approach to mental health and wellbeing, and 83% of respondents ‘strongly’ or ‘somewhat’ agreed that their MHST improved their understanding of how to access external mental health and wellbeing support for their pupils or students.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Schools have seen more children struggling with their mental health and wellbeing in recent years and this can also affect their ability to attend school and thrive.
“We have therefore welcomed the expansion of mental health support teams, and the completion of their roll-out cannot come soon enough for schools which too often struggle to access support for children in clear need of help.
“We have seen how these teams can play a key role in offering vital early support which prevents problems escalating.
“It’s crucial that these teams are also complemented by sustained investment in community mental health services, where there is considerable ground for the government to make up after years in which investment failed to keep pace with demand.
“This has meant that school, families and other services are frequently faced with high thresholds for support and long waiting lists when children are deemed eligible for help.”
