Calls for counsellors in all schools

Calls have been made for every school to have an on-site counsellor after it emerged councils and health boards in Tayside and Fife do not employ a single mental health link worker.

The Scottish Government has said a link worker should be available to every school.

Courier Country councils either said they do not employ them, or hold the information requested, while the NHS boards covering the area had no dedicated link worker staff.

Between them the Tayside and Fife health boards employ nine primary mental health workers, which includes the link worker role.

Monica Lennon, the inequalities spokesperson for Scottish Labour, said there is “utter confusion over what this role looks like in practice and who is supposed to fulfil it”.

The Scottish Children Services Coalition said the lack of counsellors or dedicated link workers in schools is compounding health problems and piling pressure on the NHS.

Councils said they have strong links with NHS services, train staff to spot early-warning signs and run educational psychology services.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said they are reviewing personal and social education in schools to “ensure every child has access to any appropriate support, counselling, or pastoral guidance they may need”.