Push for youth mental health support

A new petition is calling for more support for intermediate-aged children suffering from mental illnesses.

Only low-decile intermediate schools have access to counsellors, but a group of Massey University students want to change that.

The Massey University research group launched the petition to demand urgent action to support youth suffering from mental illnesses.

Green Bay resident and group member Elena King said they want to help intermediate-aged youth struggling with mental health.

‘‘There’s not really a focus on mental health for that age even though it’s the very start of adolescence,’’ she said.

‘‘I can just imagine there is a lot of kids at that age who are feeling really lost.’’

King said while there was support for high school students, not all intermediate schools had help available.

Only lower decile intermediate schools had counsellors – but King said they were needed in all schools.

The group was calling for immediate action on getting help in schools, including additional funding and counsellors.

‘‘We want something to happen right away,’’ she said.

‘‘We shouldn’t be number one in the world for youth mental health suicides.’’

Thirteen children aged 10-14 committed suicide between July 2016 and June 2017, according to a Ministry of Justice report.

Ministry of Education sector enablement and support deputy secretary Katrina Casey said there had been an increased awareness of the need to promote mental health and wellbeing not only in schools but across New Zealand.

Mental health was part of the health and physical education subjects. The New Zealand curriculum required schools to help students develop competencies for mental wellbeing.

Casey said the social workers in schools programme ran in all decile 1 to 3 primary and intermediate schools.

Other intermediate schools could use its operation grants funding to employ guidance counsellors, she said.

King’s group would be sending their petition to MPs Kelvin Davis, Clare Curran, Shane Reti and Nikki Kaye.

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