| answer text |
<p>We know that, across society, the COVID-19 outbreak has had an impact on wellbeing
and mental health, but it has had a particular impact on children and young people.
That is why, as a government, we have made children’s wellbeing and mental health
a central part of our response to the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>Getting children and
young people back into education, with settings devoting time to supporting wellbeing,
will play a fundamental part in supporting children and young people’s mental health.
The return to school will allow social interaction with peers, carers and teachers,
which benefits wellbeing. The department has now published detailed plans for all
children and young people to return to full-time education from September. The guidance
for schools is available here:<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools</a>.</p><p>We
have been working hard to ensure that all pupils and learners will return to a full
high-quality education programme in September. Our £1 billion Covid catch-up package,
with £650 million shared across schools over the 2020-21 academic year, will support
education settings to put the right catch-up and pastoral support in place. More information
is available here:<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/billion-pound-covid-catch-up-plan-to-tackle-impact-of-lost-teaching-time"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/billion-pound-covid-catch-up-plan-to-tackle-impact-of-lost-teaching-time</a>.</p><p>As
pupils return to school, staff need to be equipped to understand that some children
and young people may be experiencing feelings in such as anxiety, stress or low mood
as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and that these are normal responses to an abnormal
situation. Our Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools Advice includes information
about what to look for in terms of underlying mental health issues, linked to the
graduated response and the support that might be suitable. More information is available
here:<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2</a>.</p><p>The
department has also published detailed plans for all children and young people to
return to full-time education from September. The guidance highlights the particular
need to focus on pastoral support and mental wellbeing as a central part of what schools
provide, in order to re-engage them and rebuild social interaction with their friends
and teachers. This will involve curriculum provision as well as extra-curricular and
pastoral support, and our recently published relationships, sex and health education
training module will support teachers with preparation to deliver content on mental
health and wellbeing. More information is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-mental-wellbeing"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-mental-wellbeing</a>.</p><p>We
also remain committed to our joint green paper delivery programme with the Department
of Health and Social Care and NHS England, including introducing new mental health
support teams and testing approaches to deliver four week waiting times for access
to NHS support.</p><p>Access to mental health support is more important than ever
during the COVID-19 outbreak. NHS services remain open. Leading mental health charities
are being supported to deliver additional services through the £5 million Coronavirus
Mental Health Response Fund. During Mental Health Awareness Week, the government also
announced that a further £4.2 million will be awarded to mental health charities,
including the Samaritans, Young Minds, and Bipolar UK.</p><p>The department in collaboration
with Public Health England and NHS England, delivered two webinars in July to provide
further mental health support. The first webinar was for schools and colleges to support
teachers in promoting and supporting the mental wellbeing of children and young people
during the COVID-19 outbreak. The second event was for stakeholders across the local
system to support strengthening of local partnerships to further support children
and young people’s mental health as they return to school. We had around 10,000 sign
up to the first webinar and around 1,300 to the second, and they are now available
online for wider use.</p><p>All NHS mental health trusts have been asked to ensure
that there are 24/7 open access telephone lines to support people of all ages. Public
Health England and Health Education England have also developed advice and guidance
for parents and professionals on supporting children and young people’s mental health
and wellbeing, which is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-supporting-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-and-wellbeing</a>.</p><p>
</p>
|
|
