Increasing support for the mental health of young people is essential to combat the rising rates of student absenteeism, according to a new report.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant decline in school attendance rates, with nearly a quarter of students in England now categorized as persistently absent, missing at least 10% of their education.
A committee of MPs has identified the lack of mental health support for young people as a key factor behind this increase in absenteeism.
According to a report published by the House of Commons Education Select Committee, there has been overwhelming evidence of a radical increase in mental health difficulties among school pupils since the pandemic began.
Last year, an estimated 18% of young people under the age of 16 had a probable mental disorder, marking a 50% increase from the 12% recorded in 2017.
The scale of the problem highlights concerns that the pandemic’s impact has been as detrimental to children’s mental health as it has been to their education.
The committee’s report underscores that these difficulties have been exacerbated by record waiting lists, with some young people waiting up to three years to see a specialist.
MPs have called on the government to review the available support and reduce waiting times to four weeks to address this pressing issue effectively.
