Laois primary schools selected for mental health pilot programme

A new pilot primary school programme to improve children’s mental wellbeing is being rolled out in Laois.

Laois is one of seven counties nationally selected for the programme which aims to help primary school children in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Education Norma Foley regarding the pilot in-school counselling service. 

The programme is to be rolled out in counties Laois, Cavan, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Tipperary and Monaghan. 

The new service is in response to the campaign led by the INTO and is a significant step in addressing what they say is the growing need for mental health support among primary school pupils.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental wellbeing of children, leading to an increased number of pupils seeking behavioural and emotional interventions.

"Referrals to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and other relevant services have risen by a staggering 40%," the INTO said. 

"Some 237,000 children are living in poverty in Ireland with 68,000 children on waiting lists for essential services. 3,500 are homeless and 1,800 avail of International Protection Accommodation Services," the INTO stated.  

"As teachers, INTO members have witnessed first-hand the adverse effects of mental ill-health and poor emotional well-being on pupils. The lengthy waiting lists for specialist services have only compounded these challenges, leaving many children without the support they desperately need," they said. 

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Sean Fleming welcomed the pilot programme of counselling and mental health supports for Laois primary schools.

“I would like to welcome the news today that Laois has been selected as one of the seven counties for this pilot programme. All primary schools in the county will be able to benefit from this for the first time, from September 2023,” said Minister Fleming. 

“This new programme is designed to recognise the impact of COVID-19 on primary school-aged children and will work to alleviate the mental health challenges, which may be experienced in Laois schools.

The programme will provide for one-to-one counselling sessions in Laois primary schools. Schools will have access to up to eight counselling sessions for each individual child, with children with special educational needs also benefiting from the programme,” he said. 

He expressed delight at the inclusion of Laois in the pilot.

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“It is excellent that Laois has been selected as a county for this pilot programme. It is up to the schools to avail of this new opportunity, which will be of significant benefit to schoolchildren,” said Minister Fleming. 

“I encourage every Laois primary school to take part in this new scheme. All primary schools will receive further information during the next week, including information for parents,” he added.

Senator and Green Party Minister, Pippa Hackett also welcomed the programme. 

“I am delighted to see that Laois has been selected as one of seven counties to pilot the provision of inclusive,  one-to-one counselling sessions for primary schools. This is a measure announced in Budget 23 and it is excellent to see the detail of the delivery.

“While I believe all of us regret such services are necessary, we know that mental health resilience in our children is more important than ever. I believe this intervention will have lifelong benefits for those children who are included,” she said. 

“I look forward to the roll-out of the pilot, the review and learnings from it, and the potential for extending it nationwide,” she added.