An independent evaluation of Northern Ireland鈥檚 now-closed Healthy Happy Minds scheme has emphasised the positive impact the pilot programme had on children鈥檚 lives and education.

Healthy Happy Minds provided access to counselling and other therapy interventions 鈥� including art, music, drama, and play therapy 鈥� in 566 primary schools between November 2021 until March 2023.

When it was announced that it would close, we campaigned with other organisations in Northern Ireland to try to secure further funding.

In April 2023 we also formed a coalition of therapeutical professional bodies and providers.

The coalition published a report in November 2023 which featured the voices of children, families, school staff and our members, as well as impact data and return on investment evidence.

Cross-party political support

Since publication, we鈥檝e met with the education spokespeople of many parties in Northern Ireland, and received cross-party political support for our primary school counselling campaign.

During this time, we were waiting for the independent evaluation of Healthy Happy Minds that had been promised by the Department for Education.

This report has now been released and stated the 鈥渋mpact was believed to be positive for children and the wider school community.鈥�

Evaluation

Findings from the evaluation included:

  • 87% of schools who were involved in the pilot said they be unable to provide counselling without the scheme.
  • 96% of schools and 98% of practitioners agreed the scheme enhanced the emotional and mental wellbeing of children who participated
  • 93% of schools and 99% of respondents agreed the pilot positively impacted on the schools who participated
  • 97% of practitioners agreed the pilot enhanced the behaviour of children who participated

Further evidence

Steve Mulligan, our Four Nations Lead, said: 鈥淭his evaluation echoes our own report evidence and is another powerful indicator of what a huge loss the ending of the Healthy Happy Minds pilot 聽has been to Northern Ireland鈥檚 children, families and schools.

鈥淚t鈥檚 further evidence that we need counselling and therapeutic support fully restored across Northern Ireland鈥檚 primary schools鈥�

鈥淥ur own analysis also demonstrated some important learnings which need to be implemented to further improve any future provision, including the need to engage professional bodies in the design and development of any future provision, to improve safeguarding, to address the lack of a complaints process and to ensure sustainable longer-term funding鈥�