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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