Access to counsellors in secondary schools and children and young people’s community mental health services – summary reports

Access to counsellors in secondary schools

The 2018/19 Programme for Government included a commitment to invest in access to school counselling services across education. This commitment ensures that every secondary school has access to counselling services, while improving the ability of local primary and special schools to access counselling.

Access to counselling support through secondary schools is now in place across Scotland. The Scottish Government continues to support our local authority partners with £16 million in funding to ensure that every secondary school has access to counselling services.

Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health Services

Through the children and young people’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Supports and Services Framework, the Scottish Government is providing local authorities with £15 million per annum to fund community-based mental health supports for children and young people aged five-24 (26 if care-experienced), their family members and their carers. 

Over 230 new and enhanced community services are now in place across Scotland, and are operating in every local authority area. The services are focused on prevention and early intervention, and include supports for positive mental health and wellbeing as well as for emotional distress.

Joint reporting approach

Local authorities provide six-monthly joint reports to the Scottish Government on both access to counsellors in secondary schools and children and young people’s community mental health services.

The following reports provide analysis and combined information, provided by local authorities, on the school counselling service and community mental health services in their area.

There is variation in how the access to counselling service is being delivered across authorities. Some authorities are providing a specific resource in schools while others are providing an authority-wide service according to need across their region.

In relation to community mental health services, there is a range of supports and services in place across all local authorities, set up in response to the needs identified at a local level.

The divergent nature of the services means that data is recorded differently, and the information provided in the reports reflect this. We are working with local authorities to continue to develop and improve data to provide the best possible understanding of impact.

Summary reports

Access to counsellors in secondary schools: summary report - January to June 2021

Access to counsellors in secondary schools and children and young people’s community mental health services: summary report - July to December 2021