The Medway Labour and Co-operative Group have reacted positively to the Labour Party’s plans to prioritise tackling mental health issues by hiring thousands of new mental health specialists, with a focus on ensuring every school has a working professional available to help students.
This pledge is in the context of a lack of investment in mental health which has seen widespread news reports around the failure of schools to provide the support that students need.
Cllr Clive Johnson, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Shadow Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said:
“We know that mental health support for young people in Medway is a real issue and the Conservative council administration have failed to address it effectively. One in six children and young teens in the UK have been identified as having a probable mental health problem – that’s about five children in every classroom. The scale of this problem in schools is clear for all to see, which is why I’m pleased Labour is pledging to have a mental health professional in every school across the country. Labour is working hard locally and nationally to ensure that our young people receive the support they need.”
Cllr Pat Cooper, Member for Gillingham North and Member of Medway Council’s Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee added:
“I’m glad there’s been a lot more talk about mental health in society lately. But it’s important that words are followed up by actions, and I think recruiting 8,500 new mental health staff as Labour have announced we would do would be a step in the right direction. As a local councillor and a school governor, I know such a policy would really benefit our community and our schools here in Medway.”
Notes
Statistics on the extent of mental health issues in schools https://www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/mental-health-statistics/
Reports on the current failures to help students – https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/17/mental-health-services-crisis-children?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other