Dear editor,
Every year World Mental Health Day arrives in October and serves as a reminder for all of us to prioritise our own emotional health and wellbeing and those of our children too.
From 2022/23 our counsellors at Childline delivered almost 200,000 counselling sessions to under 19’s and over 105,000 of those sessions mentioned mental health.
In response to this, the NSPCC is calling for the government to commit to funding and delivering Mental Health Support Teams across all schools and colleges as every child deserves to receive the help they need, when they need it. But currently the government’s target is to reach 50% of pupils by April 2025. The charity feels this lacks the urgency that is needed to stop any long-term impact that can happen to anyone suffering from mental health for a prolonged period.
While we pursue this campaign, it’s up to parents, carers and our counsellors to be there for any child that needs us. We know that it can be hard to accept that our children are struggling with mental health issues, however it’s crucial that young people feel supported, reassured and not judged by the adults in their lives.
Our Childline counsellors are here for them too and they can be reached by calling 0800 1111, our lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and every call is confidential. Our counsellors can also be reached online at www.childline.org.uk and there they can also access advice for mental health support too.
They’re not alone and together we can be there for them.
Ellen Smith
NSPCC Local Campaigns Manager for the East of England
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