We鈥檙e pleased to see the Scottish Government confirm its first payments have been sent to university and colleges in the country as part of a huge programme of investment in counselling.
The government last year committed to spending 拢20 million providing 80 new counsellors across Scotland鈥檚 further and higher education institutions
Colleges and universities will receive more than 拢3.6 million this academic year, with the rest of the investment to come over the next three years.
We 聽played a core role in lobbying for this important investment in partnership with NUS Scotland and SAMH, the Scottish Association for Mental Health.聽
Institutions are being given guidance to stipulate how the money should be spent.
The government has said that all counsellors funded by this investment must be on a register accredited by the Professional Standards Agency, such as the 香港六合彩精准资料 register. The roles would be open to our registered and accredited members.
Counselling at the heart of policies
Steve Mulligan, our Four Nations Lead, who is a member of the Working Group established to advise on implementation, said:
鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased to see Scottish Government put counselling at the heart of their policies to support the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland and they are 聽leading by example with this investment into college and university student鈥檚 mental health. Seeing the money go to institutions shows the positive impact of our campaigning聽finally come to fruition 鈥�
鈥淲e have lobbied for this investment with our members in Scotland and have worked with officials to ensure that this translates in to additional paid opportunities for counsellors that doesn鈥檛 put existing provision at risk and critically provides our vulnerable young people in Scotland with the support they need. We look forward to further involvement in this important initiative as it progresses.鈥�
This is part of a wider package of measures where Scottish Government will invest 拢80 million over the next four years in providing counsellors across education settings, including 拢60 million to also fund counsellors in all secondary schools.
Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:
鈥淪upporting the health and wellbeing of students is essential if they are to achieve their full potential.聽I want every student to be able to access the mental health support they need, regardless of whether they are at college or university, and we will work closely with the sectors to achieve this.鈥�
sent to further and higher education institutions.