There has been a worrying decline in the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in recent years sparked, it no small way, by the impact of the lockdowns during the Covid pandemic and the vastly increased use of smartphones and social media by young teenagers.
I am proud of the previous Government’s record on supporting children’s social, emotional and mental health needs at school, which included introducing mental health support teams in schools and colleges across England, over 600 of which are now in place. The previous Government also provided schools and colleges with guidance and resources to help them develop a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
I would also support a ban on smartphones during the school day, which I believe would help create the conditions that are necessary in schools for our children to succeed academically, socially and emotionally. It is very disappointing that the Government has refused to consider such a ban.
One of the local organisations helping young people who are struggling with their mental health, in school, at home and in social settings, is the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society. This month we have had Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and the BCCS has been in touch with me to highlight some of the work they have done with families in Essex and East London.
Hundreds of counselling sessions have been held in schools and at the BCCS Centre in Billericay, Christmas vouchers have been given to families in financial hardship and emergency crisis support has been provided in schools.
The young people being helped have struggled due to anything from bereavement and anxiety to trauma and family conflict, and can be self-harming or refusing to go to school. Clearly the work carried out by BCCS, and other organisations like them, to ensure children’s voices and emotions are heard and acknowledged is vital and I thank all those who work so hard to support young people through difficult times.
