What challenges do schools and colleges face in providing mental health support for students? MPs investigate
Meeting details
On Tuesday, the Education Committee and Health and Social Care Committee will examine the government’s progress in improving mental health support in schools and colleges.
Between 2020/21 and 2022/23, mental health referrals for children and young people increased by over 50% to almost 1.3m. However, it is estimated that NHS children and young people’s mental health services currently reach only around 40% of those in need.
In the 2025 Spending Review, the government announced it would expand Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) which provide early and preventative mental health support in education settings, to 100% of schools in England by 2029-30. MPs will hear from academics and organisations responsible for delivering MHST in schools and colleges on the progress made in rolling out this programme, and the challenges they’ve faced.
Questions are likely to focus on the recruitment and retention of MHST staff, and how organisations can strike a balance between interventions for individual students and embedding a whole school approach.
The committees could also consider if the delivery of services is sufficient to meet the needs of children and young people and how successful the current curriculum is at promoting positive mental health and wellbeing.