The Mental Health Support Team (MHST) is working with over 168 schools and colleges to deliver mental health support to children and young people.
This week is Children’s Mental Health Week, a week which began 11 years ago with the aim to reduce stigma and empower children to speak about their mental health. Figures from NHS Digital show that in 2024 over one million children and young people were in contact with NHS Mental Health services.
Our dedicated team of around 72 healthcare professionals are working across Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire offering mental health support to children and young people. The MHST are part of a national NHS project to support children with mild to moderate mental health issues including anxiety, depression, sleep problems, panic attacks, specific phobias and behavioural and emotional regulation.
The team which is made up of educational mental health practitioners, mental health practitioners, senior mental health practitioners and clinical leads provide support, advice and practical tools for both students and staff.
During 2024 the MHST received over 1876 referrals, with 42% of these coming from primary schools with an almost even spilt of referrals for boys and girls.
Griffin Park Primary School in Blackburn have been working with the team for almost five years:
“We really value all the support your team have given the children in our school who are struggling with low mood and anxiety. They have given the children strategies to help them regulate their emotions and deal with challenging situations in everyday life.
Their mood has improved and they are generally less anxious in school and at home.”
The work the team do is designed to bridge the gap between education and mental health services, ensuring that children get help quickly and efficiently. Each intervention is tailored to the needs of the individual and involves parents, carers and teachers so young people get the best support at home and in school.
Haslingden High are one of the many secondary schools who benefit from working with the MHST:
“We have several MHST workers who visit our school weekly. They provide invaluable support for our students, parents and staff.
MHST have helped to raise awareness of mental health in young people and have provided information, support and guidance to our school.”
Since the team began their work in 2020 they have interacted with thousands of local children, young people, parents, carers and teachers, working to reduce stigma through their one to one work, group work, assemblies and workshops.
Bryan Pierce, Clinical Team Manager adds:
“It is so important to start conversations about mental health with children from an early age. We know that 50% of lifetime mental health difficulties start before the age of 14 so early interventions are vital to help young people. The work we do allows us to speak directly to our local children and young people and offer them a safe space to recognise their struggles and ask for help.
The feedback we receive from our schools and parents show the real impact we are having. A parent told us recently that they are so proud of the progress their child has made and that our parent sessions have allowed them to reflect and change their own approaches. This particular child is now regularly attending school and walking home at the end of the day, which is something that felt impossible a few months ago.”
If you are worried about a child or young person speaking to their school is often the first place parents and carers will engage with and pastoral care and next steps can be explored. Further information can be accessed via Young Minds, Kooth or visit your GP. Our Mental Health Support Team can provide parent guides, school information and referral details.
