(time limit 20 minutes)
The mental health and wellbeing of young people is suffering due to lack of appropriate funding by Central Government, in a recent survey of primary school head teachers, almost 80% of those who responded said a lack of money prevented them providing mental health services in schools. We know that more than half of all mental illness starts before the age of 15 and it is clear from front line school teachers and head teachers that they are increasingly faced with problems of mental health issues among their students. It is therefore a false economy to cut funding for services for children and young people.
As a Youth Council we have held Mental Health as a priority issue for 6 years, because young people in Oldham tell us it’s a priority issue, professionals we work with tell us it’s a priority issue, our regional and National counterparts tell us it’s a priority issue and the Government need to acknowledge and address this priority issues
In Oldham there is cross sectoral agreement recognising the problem of mental ill health and the will to act jointly with governmental support. The Council, CCG, schools, colleges and other partner organisations are working in partnership with our young people on projects such as MH2K, the school and college emotional and mental wellbeing framework and the Youth Councils "Kerrching" funding stream. We have also been lucky enough to receive some funding from the CCG to commission training around a range of children and young people’s Mental Health topics for front line practitioners in Oldham. But this isn’t enough, without adequate funding from Central Government these initiatives will have limited impact.
In 2015 we were part of a Youth Select committee on young people’s mental health, the report from that committee made a number of excellent recommendations including:
Adequate funding for Young people’s mental health services so it is no longer the Cinderella of Cinderella services but rather receives funding proportionate to that of Physical health.
A whole school approach to addressing The Emotional wellbeing of students that includes mandatory minimum training for teachers on Mental Health, the inclusion of trained counsellors in all schools and improved access to Counselling services.
Additional support for young people during the stressful exam period and a call for the Department of Education to lead on piloting, evaluating and sharing good practice projects to promote this.
The Youth Council acknowledges and supports the excellent work being done by the Council and its partner agencies including Oldham Youth Council and thanks all those involved in developing and implementing this work.
Increased funding from government specifically to address mental health and wellbeing for pupils, students and young people would enable the council to sustain current programmes that are meeting with success but are limited by funding.
We therefore ask Council to resolve to ask the Chief Executive to write to both the Minister of State for Education and the Minister of State for Health, requesting the Government to ensure that adequate funding is made available to schools and colleges to allow them to invest in the early intervention services and that services such as CAMHS receive the funding they need to deliver the services our young people need.
Minutes:
The Youth Council moved the following MOTION:
“The mental health and wellbeing of young people is suffering due to lack of appropriate funding by Central Government, in a recent survey of primary school head teachers, almost 80% of those who responded said a lack of money prevented them providing mental health services in schools. We know that more than half of all mental illness starts before the age of 15 and it is clear from front line school teachers and head teachers that they are increasingly faced with problems of mental health issues among their students. It is therefore a false economy to cut funding for services for children and young people.
As a Youth Council we have held Mental Health as a priority issue for 6 years, because young people in Oldham tell us it’s a priority issue, professionals we work with tell use it’s a priority issue, professionals we work with tell us it’s a priority issue, our regional and National counterparts tell us it’s a priority issue and the Government need to acknowledge and address this priority issue. In Oldham there is cross sectoral agreement recognising the problem of mental ill health and the will to act jointly with government support. The Council, CCG, schools, colleges and other partner organisations are working in partnership with our young people on projects such as MH2K, the school and college emotional and mental wellbeing framework and the Youth Councils ‘Kerrching’ funding stream. We have also been lucky enough to receive some funding from the CCG to commission training around a range of children and young people’s Mental Health topics for front line practitioners in Oldham. But this isn’t enough, without adequate funding from Central Government these initiatives will have limited impact.
In 2015 we were part of a Youth Select committee on young people’s mental health services so it is no longer the Cinderella of Cinderella services but rather receives funding proportionate to that of Physical health.
A whole school approach to addressing The Emotional wellbeing of students that includes mandatory minimum training for teachers on Mental Health, the inclusion of trained counsellors in all schools and improved access to Counselling services. Additional support for young people during the stressful exam period and a call for the Department of Education to lead on piloting, evaluating and sharing good practice projects to promote this.
The Youth Council acknowledges and supports the excellent work being done by the Council and its partner agencies including Oldham Youth Council and thanks all those involved in developing and implementing this work.
Increased funding from government specifically to address mental health and wellbeing for pupils, students and young people would enable the council to sustain current programmes that are meeting with success but are limited by funding.
We therefore ask the Chief Executive to resolve to asked the Chief Executive to write to both the Minister of State for Education and the Minister of State for Health, requesting the Government to ensure that adequate funding is made available to schools and colleges to allow them to invest in the early intervention services and that services such as CAHMHS receive the funding they need to deliver the services for our young people.”
Councillor Harkness spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Williams spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Heffernan spoke in support of the motion.
Councillor Chadderton spoke in support of the motion.
A vote was then taken on the MOTION.
On being put to the vote, the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
RESOLVED that the Chief Executive write to both the Minister of State for Education and the Minister of State for Health, requesting the Government to ensure that adequate funding is made available to schools and colleges to allow them to invest in the early intervention services and that services such as CAHMHS receive the funding they need to deliver the services for our young people.
NOTE: Councillor S. Bashforth entered the Chamber during this item.