We support the new Children鈥檚 Commissioner for England鈥檚 call for every child to have access to a school counsellor.

Dame Rachel de Souza says children need better access to mental health services as they return to school after the latest coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking to , Dame Rachel said: 鈥淭here is a mental health epidemic among children and tackling it is going to be one of the biggest challenges after Covid.

鈥淢any children feel they are facing an uncertain future and need better access to children鈥檚 mental health services.

鈥淚 would like every child in every school, wherever they live in England, to have access to a counsellor if they need one.鈥�

School counselling campaign

Dame Rachel鈥檚 comments, which echo her predecessor Anne Longfield, who also advocated for school counselling, were welcomed by Jo Holmes, our Children, Young People and Families Lead.

We鈥檝e been campaigning for a paid counsellor to be available in every secondary school, academy and further education college in England.

And Jo said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 really pleasing that the new Children鈥檚 Commissioner is keeping the school-based counselling agenda alive.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really important message and we wholeheartedly welcome her support for counsellors to be available in every school. We hope the government listens.

Vital support

鈥淎s children face increased change and uncertainty in their lives because of the pandemic, it鈥檚 more important than ever before they have access to this vital support.

鈥淚 look forward to working with the Children鈥檚 Commissioner to share this message with policy-makers, commissioners and government,鈥� Jo added.