Over 2,000‑Signature School Mental Health Petition Delivered to North Tyneside Council

National World - LocalTV

A petition signed by 2,039 residents and driven by pupils from St Thomas More and Marden High Schools calls on North Tyneside Council to pilot placing qualified mental health counsellors in every school.

Transcript

00:00A signed petition by more than 2,000 residents has been formally submitted to North Tyneside Council,

00:06calling for qualified mental health counsellors to be placed in every school across the borough.

00:11The petition, organised by students from St Thomas More Catholic High School and Marden High School,

00:17urges the local authority to address growing concerns over youth mental health by piloting in-school counselling services.

00:23The initiative has gained traction amid increasing reports of stress, anxiety and absenteeism among students.

00:31A council report attached to the petition notes that while North East Combined Authority Mayor Kim McGuinness

00:36acknowledged a pilot programme might be worthwhile, no funding has yet been committed.

00:41Speaking in support of the petition, Reverend Simon Mason highlighted the urgent need for more comprehensive support in schools.

00:48Young people whose mental health needs fall between the scope of existing services.

00:54Currently, one in four children and young people suffer from a diagnosable mental health condition, Reverend Mason said.

01:01Some benefit from local mental health support teams like Connect here in North Shields and others from CARMS.

01:08But many are overlooked.

01:10These students often fall through the cracks and we believe that school counselling could be a crucial lifeline.

01:15Reverend Mason also linked the issue to educational outcomes,

01:19arguing that addressing mental health challenges could help reduce school absenteeism,

01:25ultimately improving GCSE and A-level performance.

01:29It also noted that current GCSE and A-level results are in line with national averages,

01:33while K-Stage 2 results in North Tyneside exceed the national average by 3%.

01:38Despite this, the petition received unanimous support to be formally considered by full council.

01:45No, you're welcome.

01:45Really?

01:48I'm not a fan of level.

01:49I'm not a fan of level.

01:50I'm not a fan of level.

01:51Remember that I would be very on the line.

01:51I'm not a fan of level.

01:53I love when I'm above level.

01:55But I'm not a fan of level.

01:57I think that I'm not a fan of level.

01:59It depends on the high of the Emmanuel.

02:01I'm not a fan of level.

02:03It could help me develop myself.

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