AQW 10657/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 23/04/2024
Answered On Date: 08/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what work has been undertaken alongside the Minister of Education to embed mental health support systems in educational institutions.

Answer:

The Department of Health and the Department of Education continue to collaborate in providing mental health support systems in educational institutions.

The main driver for this is the Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework which was jointly launched by both Departments in 2021. A copy of the Framework is available at: https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/publications/children-young-peoples-emotional-health-and-wellbeing-education-framework-final-version

The main emphasis of the Framework is to support educational settings to promote emotional health and wellbeing at a universal level. A number of important projects and pilots have been taken forward through this Framework aimed at various elements of providing help and support to children and young people and their emotional and mental health. These include: the HSCT Text-a-Nurse service, School Nursing Pilot, REACH Regional Integrated Support for Education NI (RISE NI) and Being Well Doing Well (BWDW)

One of the key projects from a health perspective is Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools (EWTS). The EWTS is a multi-disciplinary health led team which launched in academic year 2023/2024.

The aim is to provide intervention at the earliest opportunity by ensuring schools are aware of appropriate pathways for support in their local area and within CAMHS. This work involves working collaboratively with teaching staff and other providers to coordinate and deliver wellbeing programmes and interventions. These teams are currently in 48 schools across the region with a further roll-out planned this financial year.