Place2Be calls for politicians to commit to £15 million fund to boost mental health support in primary schools

Ahead of the Scottish budget and next year’s Scottish Parliament elections, we have called for a £15 million “positive investment in childhood” to fund mental health and wellbeing supports in primary schools. 

We've said that a Children’s Mental Health Early Intervention Fund would close a key gap in provision, building on the success of the Scottish Government’s counselling in schools funding for secondary schools and better joining up education and health services. 

The Scottish Government’s own research suggests that almost 1 in 5 (18%) children aged 5 to 7 were already experiencing mental health difficulties – rising to almost 1 in 4 (23%) of children aged 8 to 11. With 50% of mental health problems established by age 14, there is a need to provide help early. 

The fund could have a positive impact on the mental health and education of children. Our own data shows that after accessing their one-to-one counselling in Scotland: 

• 75% of primary school children had an improvement reported in their mental health by one or more measures
• teachers reported an improvement in classroom learning for 55% of children
• teachers also reported an improvement in behaviour for 57% of pupils.

The national fund would be spent by headteachers, with strategic goals set jointly by local authorities and health boards. If the fund were used by primary schools to work together and put a counsellor in every secondary school cluster, it could deliver up to 164,000 counselling sessions, potentially supporting over 13,500 children.

Commenting, Place2Be’s Senior Influencing and Partnerships Manager Liam Furby, said:

“There can be no doubt that children and families in Scotland face significant pressures. Yet far too many are going without the support they need to thrive – particularly in those crucial primary school years – impacting school attendance and, ultimately, attainment. 

“We’re calling for a positive investment in childhood through a new £15 million Children’s Mental Health Early Intervention Fund, ensuring every primary school can put in place mental health and wellbeing supports. 

“This investment will support all primary schools to be places that children want to be, where they feel seen and heard, where they are inspired, challenged and stretched to become the best version of themselves.”