Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01702 · Session 5

Counselling provision in all Schools

Closed Submitted 19 Jun 2018 Health
Signatures
0
1,539 online signatures with a country
Comments
171
Considered
1 meeting
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that by 2022, all pupils will have access to trained counsellors in schools.

What the petitioner did first

Written to the office of the Minister for Mental Health.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 13 Sep 2018
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

1,539 online signatures
  1. Scotland1,253 81.4%
  2. United Kingdom256 16.6%
  3. England20 1.3%
  4. United States4 0.3%
  5. Wales2 0.1%
  6. Canada1 0.1%
  7. Jersey1 0.1%
  8. Russian Federation1 0.1%
  9. Germany1 0.1%

Comments

171 comments, oldest first
171 comments · showing 1–50
  1. Anne-Marie Mckay 25 Jul 2018
    So important for children to access support. Learning young children how to express how they feel instead of them bottling their feelings up inside. One day it's too late, core beliefs, the rules for living adopted to support core beliefs will break down if the correct intervention is not available to them from a young age.
  2. Donnie Steele 26 Jul 2018
    We have a duty to help and protect the health and welfare of our children.
  3. Lynette Mimiec 27 Jul 2018
    The need is very evident in Primary Schools. Primary aged children and their families must have access to services too.
  4. Marilyne Kubath 27 Jul 2018
    All children deserve someone to listen to them.
  5. Jane Davidson 27 Jul 2018
    Our young people deserve this
  6. Jen McConville 29 Jul 2018
    Definitely a priority to support young people
  7. Lesley Margaret Emerson 30 Jul 2018
    Having worked for place2be in 2 different schools for the last 2 years, I am aware of the amount of children in need of one to one counselling, but because of the amount, there are children who are not receiving it. These are the children who are at risk of going on and having bigger issues in the future. We can't help every child but we can make a huge difference. Why is this not available for every child? If it was it would be more 'normal' and more acceptable for everyone.
  8. Tracey Campbell 30 Jul 2018
    This is a very valuable and important factor to be considered for school children and worthy proposition
  9. Lynn Kennie 30 Jul 2018
    These services are severely under resources, 4 month waiting list so I had to go private and travel over 1 hour.
  10. Gillian Griffiths 31 Jul 2018
    Early intervention is the key to preventing the escalation of mental health difficulties in children and young people. The only way to do this effectively is by providing all pupils with access to trained counsellors within their school.
  11. Oliver Jarvis 31 Jul 2018
    As a therapist and former teacher, I have seen first-hand the benefit that such emotional support has for young people and the knock-on effects this has on their engagement, motivation and emotional development. I have also seen how difficult it is for teachers to enthuse students who have other more pressing emotional difficulties on their minds and the effect this has on their grades and performance. Scotland has been at the forefront of many important developments and I believe that this may be another one. I hope, if this is implemented, that the rest of the UK may learn from your progress.
  12. Christine Hardman 31 Jul 2018
    This is essential on all levels... Children are the future. Surely it makes social and economic sense.
  13. Crawford Robertson 31 Jul 2018
    We as a country need this
  14. Lorraine Stoddart 31 Jul 2018
    Investing in our young people is investing in the future of our country. We have focused on securing a good physical health check and support system, and with more that we're discovering and learning about mental health, it's time to work on this aspect too.
  15. Angela Weir 31 Jul 2018
    If the Scottish Government is serious about being an ACE aware nation we must provide appropriate resources to our young people to help break the cycle.
  16. christine thompson 31 Jul 2018
    about time too,long overdue
  17. Fiona Fraser 1 Aug 2018
    Supporting young people may stop the problem escalating to a lifetime of mental health issues. They need and deserve our support.
  18. Jane Morgan 1 Aug 2018
    This would be so beneficial for our kids who have suffered trauma
  19. Vanessa Blackmore 1 Aug 2018
    This type of work is too important for the well-being of our future generation to ignore. It is not enough to rely on the goodwill on volunteers to do this valuable work. Counselling and psychotherapy is a skilled profession and qualified therapists deserve to be paid properly for their work.
  20. Jane Aziz 1 Aug 2018
    Sadly this is a necessity
  21. Liz Henderson 1 Aug 2018
    The need for emotional health and mental health support in school is increasing year on year. Access to trained counsellors in schools is an essential support not only to pupils but to the pupil support staff in education. It has been shown that even a short course of support from a counsellor has helped pupils reflect, build resilience and refocus on their education, friendships and family life.
  22. Marilyne Kubath 1 Aug 2018
    Please stop the pain of mental ill health at the earliest possible time. No more pain inflicted children becoming throw away adults.
  23. Amanda dorward 1 Aug 2018
    This is so important to try and catch at a early stage intervention is the key
  24. Gillian Edward 1 Aug 2018
    Definitely needs to be done sooner rather than later.
  25. Anna Richmond 1 Aug 2018
    Personally I'd like to see this put in place.
  26. Vivienne Doak 1 Aug 2018
    Priority for our young people & their future.
  27. Gary Macdonald 1 Aug 2018
    Having experienced my childs school lack of proper support re mental health issues and CAMS batting
    kids back to the schools counsellors are much
    needed.
  28. Claire Gilbert 2 Aug 2018
    Early intervention has shown to be effective in many aspects of development and therefore therapeutic intervention should be prioritised for our young.
  29. Sharon Moir 2 Aug 2018
    Access to mental health support in school is crucial, young people are suffering, and the system is letting them down badly, our government should now step up to show Scotland will give every young person in school the access support and tools they need to overcome emotional and mental health challenges, which far too often comes too late, if at all, and this is detrimental to their health. We need to come together to fight for this, to fight for young people in school, and to stand up for their rights, and ensure no one slips through the net, or gets left unsupported. We need this change now.
  30. Gina Heywood 2 Aug 2018
    Young people in Scotland need and deserve this support.
  31. Linda McHaffie 2 Aug 2018
    This cannot come quick enough for our young people. This is needed asap not only in secondary schools but also in primary schools.
  32. Angela Bedi 2 Aug 2018
    Early intervention makes sense emotionally, educationally and financially. These children are our future
  33. Carolanne Morgan 2 Aug 2018
    Definitely priority for all of our children.
  34. Michelle Henderson 2 Aug 2018
    This has to be a priority.
  35. Mel Hanvey 3 Aug 2018
    This is music to my ears!! Something i have been passionate about for many years. Every school and every pupil should have access to a counsellor. It would address the increasing epidemic of poor mental health our young people now face.
  36. Jeniffer Paton 3 Aug 2018
    Fantastic cause and so relevant with the amount of pressure put on school children these days
  37. Stella kelly 3 Aug 2018
    Many young people need support.
  38. Angela Thrussell 3 Aug 2018
    Many children need this extra help and support and the opportunity to talk to someone who can help them find their way
  39. Norma Martin 3 Aug 2018
    This support is needed in all schools
  40. Emily Jamieson 3 Aug 2018
    As a GP who often sees kids struggling there are very few options available to support them through a tough time. CAHMs is overwhelmed and not able to cope with those who really need their services. For many earlier in school support would avoid unnecessary worsening of their mental health and then referral to a stretched service.
  41. pamela mctaggart 4 Aug 2018
    there needs to be counselling available to all school children in order for them to know that they can talk to someone about what they are feeling and thinking without fear of judgement or ridicule, and that they don't have to try to cope alone
  42. Elaine Hunter 4 Aug 2018
    Early support and intervention is essential and crucial in assisting young people.
  43. Cicely McCulloch 5 Aug 2018
    As a relationship counsellor and grandmother to 9 children who are or will be educated in the Scottish state system, I am keen that they should have the benefit of a school counsellor should they need. I know the value of counselling.
  44. Jacquie McKenzie 6 Aug 2018
    Valued service which can make a major input in the lives of our young people.
  45. Richard Olver 6 Aug 2018
    This is a really important early intervention initiative for our children's mental health.
  46. Sue M Harper 6 Aug 2018
    fully support this
  47. Shona Peel 6 Aug 2018
    Young people deserve the best!
  48. Shakeel Ansari 6 Aug 2018
    Help for our children helps prevent otherwise avoidable and adverse repurcussions for society
  49. Joy Harris 6 Aug 2018
    I am a counsellor working mainly with adults but also sometimes with children and I believe that providing counselling in schools could avert later difficulties.
  50. Craig Waugh 7 Aug 2018
    All children need supported by family, friends and occasionally professionals.....