Commenting on a new report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) and The Prince’s Trust on the mental health and wellbeing of Generation Z, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:
"Schools have an important role to play in supporting and improving their pupils mental health and wellbeing, but for that to happen all the resources and services that should be there to help need to be operating efficiently and effectively together. Schools cannot do it alone – they need timely access to the right services which need to have sufficient capacity.
"Sadly those services have been as starved of funding as education over the last decade. The government must ensure that sufficient money is invested in supporting children’s mental health now, or risk failing those children that most need help. It is vital that schools are able to access support for their pupils quickly and that there is help available for parents too."
Press and Media contacts:
Steven George
NAHT Head of Press and Media
01444 472886
07970 907730
Rose Tremlett
Senior Press Officer
07545 354363
Email : press.office@naht.org.uk
First published 27 January 2021