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RCN calls for urgent investment in school nursing to help mental health fight

Urgent investment in school nursing services is needed if we are to tackle the crisis in children’s mental health, the Royal College Of Nursing (RCN) has said.

One in 10 school children now has a diagnosable mental health condition – three in every classroom – but the RCN is concerned that only 0.7 per cent of NHS funding is spent on young people’s mental health.

Furthermore, the body points to evidence from the Centre Forum think-tank showing that 23 per cent of young people are being turned away from local mental health services.

However, despite this, a survey released at the RCN’s annual congress in Glasgow on Sunday (June 19) raises concerns about a lack of school nurses to pick up the slack.
The RCN says that “school nurses are perfectly placed to identify potential problems and initiate early intervention mental health care”.

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