For immediate release:

MENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENT IN SOUTH LANARKSHIRE SCHOOLS

Professional counselling services will be available to all secondary school pupils in South Lanarkshire who require it by September next year.

Across Scotland, the Scottish Government will invest £60 million in the new services over the next four years, including £3,592,000 for schools across South Lanarkshire. This financial year alone, £709,000 will allocated to the local authority.

School counsellors help support young people’s emotional, behavioural and mental health. Importantly, pupils will also have access to counsellors during school holidays, providing vital continuity of care.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“Children and young people can face many issues growing up and must have the right support available at the right time.

“Providing every secondary school with access to at least one counsellor by next year is a significant step forward in our package of measures to improve the mental health support available for children and young people.”

It is expected that counselling services currently delivered by qualified and registered counsellors through Pupil Equity or Scottish Attainment funding will continue, enabling councils to reallocate those funds to other priorities to help close the attainment gap.

ENDS