Key Summary
- Nearly six million students across 11,800 English schools now have access to mental health support teams.
- Nine in ten schools report improved student wellbeing
- The initiative is backed by the recruitment of 8,500 new support workers.
The NHS says it has expanded access to mental health services for pupils in schools and colleges.
Almost six million children and young people in England - across 11,800 schools and colleges -now have access to mental health support teams, according to the NHS.
This is an increase of 800,000 pupils compared with last year and follows the hiring of 8,500 additional support staff.
Nine in ten schools and colleges report better mental health and wellbeing among pupils, and seven in ten have seen a rise in attendance.
The consequences of absenteeism are serious: pupils who are persistently absent typically earn about £10,000 less by age 28.
Around one million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, employment or training, with poor mental health a significant contributing factor.
The Milburn Review found that early mental health services are often difficult to reach, and many young people only get help when they reach crisis point.
It also warns of a harmful cycle in which poor mental health leads to disengagement from education, which then worsens mental health.
The programme aims to interrupt that cycle by focusing on early support in schools.
Nearly 80 percent of secondary schools now have access to a mental health support team, offering timely and practical assistance as pressures on young people increase.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said children need the right support while coping with school and growing up.
“These teams are giving children the tools to manage life’s challenges, stay in school and achieve - and the evidence shows it is working. That is how we break down barriers so every young person, no matter their background, can get the most out of their education and ultimately, their childhood,” she added.
Shannel Duncan, Lead Family Support and Deputy Safeguarding Lead at Tollgate Primary School, said the school's MHST therapist has made a marked difference to pupils' wellbeing by providing early help and a safe space to talk, raise awareness of coping skills and strengthen emotional resilience.
The programme builds on the recruitment of 8,500 additional mental health support workers since June 2024, part of the government's 10 Year Health Plan to expand community mental health services.
Health secretary James Murray said many children and young people have long struggled with mental health issues that affect their wellbeing and education.
