New funding to support mental health and wellbeing in schools has been announced by the Department of Education.
Minister for Education Norma Foley has revealed she will publish a tender in the upcoming days in order to procure services to further support wellbeing and mental health in post-primary schools.
This will invite suitable providers to work closely with the Department of Education over a two to three-year period.
They will work to develop and deliver additional support that will complement existing systems and structures in post-primary schools for wellbeing and mental health.
Some of these services being sought after include enhancing the capacity of Student Support Teams to actively seek and respond to the voice of young people in relation to wellbeing and mental health in schools, as well as provide learning opportunities for students that promote mental health and wellbeing.
Speaking out about the new funding, Minister Foley explained, “I am pleased to announce that funding has been made available to enhance the existing wellbeing and mental health supports in our post-primary schools. We know that young people learn more effectively and have better academic outcomes if they are happy in their work and feel acknowledged and supported in school”.
“The demand for responsive services to support the mental health of children and young people is increasing, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and reported associated heightened levels of anxiety”.
“The services sought through this tender will target students, parents and school staff and see post-primary schools benefit from the provision of additional, readily-accessible support to enhance Student Support Team capacity”.
Foley continued “This will build on the good work already happening in schools to enhance wellbeing and mental health and will complement existing supports provided through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), Oide and other services and agencies”.
“I would strongly encourage service providers with experience of delivering high-quality mental health supports on a national level to young people of school-going age to apply when this tender issues in the coming days”.
