A new counseling service has been introduced in schools across Brighton and Hove to support students with their mental health needs. The initiative, part of a city-wide pilot scheme, was developed in response to a petition signed by over 2,000 sixth form students earlier this year, urging Brighton & Hove City Council to take action.
Brighton & Hove Citizens, the community group advocating for this service, previously played a pivotal role in persuading the council to become the first in the UK to declare a mental health emergency in December 2022. This declaration highlighted the growing concerns surrounding mental health issues among young people in the area.
A Public Health report released in 2022 indicated that the prevalence of social, emotional, and mental health needs among young residents in Brighton was higher than the national average.
The newly launched service will cater specifically to Year 9 secondary students and is set to run until August 2025. In February, it was announced that the council had allocated £200,000 in its draft budget to support this initiative. The service will complement the existing Schools Mental Health Service, which provides a variety of interventions for children, young people, and families.
Councillor Emma Daniel, Brighton & Hove City Council’s cabinet member for children, families, and youth services, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “When young people told us this was a priority for them, it became our priority. Mental health is a crucial factor in children and young people’s overall wellbeing, with poor mental health impacting some students and putting them at a disadvantage in school.”
Daniel expressed optimism about the pilot, stating, “We hope this initiative will provide additional support for those who have found it challenging to access learning due to their mental health, equipping them with the tools they need to lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.”
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