Petition · past parliament · Department for Education

Mandatory qualified counsellors in all secondary schools in England.

Closed 154 signatures

What the petition asks

Each school needs full-time qualified counsellors. Taking action to tackle anxieties and mental health issues early may improve school attendance. I think the Government is too reliant on unqualified practitioners and is relying on the charitable sector to provide support in schools.
There are currently too many barriers restricting children and young people’s access to mental health support. CAMHS lacks the capacity to meet demand at the level at which it is needed and in a timely manner. In addition, we believe there is too much bureaucracy and form-filling, restricting school staff’s ability to secure mental health support for children quickly—particularly at the early stage before a child reaches crisis. Thirdly, we believe CAMHS doesn't always reach, or meet needs of, ethnically diverse and multi-faith communities, owing to social stigma about going “outside” home or school for support, particularly mental health support.

Timeline

15 Nov 2023 Petition opened for signatures
15 May 2024 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 154
Status Closed
Department Department for Education
Opened 15 Nov 2023
Closed 15 May 2024

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.