The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), in collaboration with TAC Access, is pleased to announce the launch of a piece of research examining the referral patterns of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in educational establishments. The primary objective of this research is to explore how MHSTs handle complex cases and the extent to which they incorporate counsellors in these situations.
The research comes at a critical time when the mental health of children and young people in schools is a growing concern. While many educational institutions have established MHSTs to provide early intervention and support, understanding how they operate, especially regarding complex cases, remains unclear.
"This survey is an important step towards gaining a holistic view of the role MHSTs play within our educational systems," says Meg Moss, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. "Our aim is to gather insights that will allow us to recommend more effective and targeted mental health strategies for students who need them the most."
The survey is aimed at all educational establishments with MHSTs. Participation is voluntary and confidential, with the option for participants to provide contact details for any potential follow-up discussions. The findings from the survey will be used to further inform research and will remain anonymous in any subsequent data publications.
We encourage educational establishments to participate and contribute to this important research. The survey can be accessed via this link: MHST Referral Patterns Survey
For any questions regarding the survey or for more information about the project, please reach out to the project lead, Meg Moss, at meg@ncps.com or call her at 01903 200 666.
By participating in this study, educational establishments can play a crucial role in deepening our understanding of mental health support within schools, ultimately enabling us to enhance the care and support provided to our children and young people.