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<p>Where schools have immediate concerns about the risk of suicide, their safeguarding
role is set out in our statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education. This
emphasises that schools should have a designated senior lead, with responsibility
for the handling of safeguarding concerns, in place. Where schools have immediate
concerns about the risk of suicide, an immediate referral should be made to children’s
social care.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Schools can also play an important role
in identifying mental health issues early and ensuring that pupils get support to
prevent problems from escalating. One in ten children has a diagnosable mental health
disorder and the Government is committed to improving support for these young people.
The Department for Education is taking action to tackle the stigma around mental health,
promote positive wellbeing, and to ensure pupils have the support and knowledge that
they need to keep themselves healthy and safe.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In order
to support schools, the Department is publishing new guidance for both primary and
secondary schools. This guidance is produced in conjunction with the Personal Social
Health and Economic Education Association (PSHE). This will help them to provide age-appropriate
teaching on a range of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and self-harm.
We are also updating the Mental Health and Behaviour guidance for schools, first published
in June 2014<a title="" href="http://3dcpri-papp09/new_parliamentaryquestion/228146-%20Jim%20Shannon/Draft/228146%20-%20QA%20-%20200315.docx#_ftn1"
target="_blank">[1]</a>. This is to ensure that current advice and guidance on supporting
pupils mental health needs is reflected. The guidance helps schools to identify and
support those with more severe needs and to make appropriate referrals to specialist
mental health services. The ‘Future in Mind’ report, published on 17 March 2015<a
title="" href="http://3dcpri-papp09/new_parliamentaryquestion/228146-%20Jim%20Shannon/Draft/228146%20-%20QA%20-%20200315.docx#_ftn2"
target="_blank">[2]</a>, set out a clear set of ambitions for improving access to
specialist mental health support for children and young people. Later this year we
will be piloting joint training for points of contact in specialist mental health
services and schools across 15 Clinical Commissioning Group areas; this will improve
knowledge and referrals, so that pupils get the support they need more quickly.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Many schools already provide pupils with access to counselling
services, providing children and young people with safe environments where they can
discuss problems and receive support. The Department is publishing new guidance for
primary and secondary schools on how to deliver good quality school-based counselling
services to support their pupils.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department knows
that children and young people who are persistently bullied are more likely to suffer
from poor mental health and emotional wellbeing. It is for this reason that we have
made tackling bullying in schools a top priority. All schools must have a behaviour
policy with measures to tackle bullying. Schools are held to account for their effectiveness
by Ofsted.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a title="" href="http://3dcpri-papp09/new_parliamentaryquestion/228146-%20Jim%20Shannon/Draft/228146%20-%20QA%20-%20200315.docx#_ftnref1"
target="_blank">[1]</a> <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2</a>.</p><p><a
title="" href="http://3dcpri-papp09/new_parliamentaryquestion/228146-%20Jim%20Shannon/Draft/228146%20-%20QA%20-%20200315.docx#_ftnref2"
target="_blank">[2]</a> <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-mental-health-services-for-young-people"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-mental-health-services-for-young-people</a></p><p>
</p>
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