Counselling for Welsh youngsters wins praise
THE Westminster government should follow the example set in Wales by making in-school counselling mandatory for all children over the age of 11, according to a leading think-tank.
In a report published today, ResPublica says counselling, such as the services provided by the children’s charity Barnardo’s Cymru, can prevent mental health issues by picking up potential problems early.
It points to research showing that 88% of 11 to 18-year-olds who accessed in-school counselling in Wales in 2015/16 did not require further referral to specialist services.
The report – Making young minds matter: Reshaping support services for young people in the new Parliament – also expresses support for a partnership between Newport City Council and Barnardo’s Cymru to provide its Integrated Family Support Service (IFSS).
Referring to the partnership, which was also described as “one of the most impressive overall models” by the Institute of Public Care (IPC), ResPublica says: “We welcome the ambition shown in areas such as Newport.”
The report also calls on the UK government to consider introducing a duty on social media firms who it says do not do enough to address the negative impact of social media on young people’s mental health.
Amid mounting concern that social media sites operated by firms such as Google, Twitter and Facebook can have a devastating impact on the wellbeing of some children, it urges the Government to work more closely with technology giants to create a special fund based on voluntary contributions.
ResPublica recommends that the UK Government and social media companies should jointly invest in technological mental health support to help young people affected.
The report warns: “If this collaborative approach proves unworkable, government should instead consider imposing a levy on the turnover of such companies, which could then be earmarked for this purpose.”
Technology giants are already under pressure to exhibit greater social responsibility. Mike Barton, the chief constable of Durham police, recently called on internet firms to re-invest some of their “eye-watering” profits into efforts to stamp out child abuse images online.
Javed Khan, Barnardo’s chief executive, said: “I sincerely welcome this policy paper from ResPublica, which astutely and incisively draws attention to the crucial role of support services for young people, and the organisations like Barnardo’s which deliver them, in building a country which can offer all our children a real prospect of happiness, health, and prosperity.”
The UK Government was contacted to comment.