Concerns for children's mental health across Lincolnshire and Newark is rising as the after effects of the pandemic linger
The National Governance Association says 55 percent of it's members it spoke to are worried - with many also concerned about self harm and mental health.
We're hearing that's schools across Lincolnshire and Newark are yet to recover from the global pandemic, with concerns around mental health and self harm on the rise.
It comes as research by The National Governance Association found 55 percent of those asked - are getting more worried about things like neglect, domestic abuse and bullying.
Amy Butler - is the Head of Children and Young People Services at the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and tells us more:
"I think nothing's surprising, but what I would say is we know that children's mental health and wellbeing are a really big priority nationally. So, I think it's really positive that it's getting the attention that it needs, and we're raising awareness.
"So I always think this sort of information when it gets shared is really useful information.
"What's important to note is that before the pandemic, we were already seeing an increase in the number of children and young people needing mental health support and what the pandemic did is it sort of impacted on that prevalence."
Amy continued to say that there's actually even more ways to get help now - thanks to the pandemic:
"I think on the flip side; all of the positives that we saw come out of the pandemic, particularly for the NHS is a positive. We saw it quite advance in digital development and I think that in turn, that has made us much more accessible, and we're able to offer more support in a different way, and reach more young people as a result of that.
"So as much as I think there's been some negatives around the pandemic, there's been some really good positives that have come out of it as well.
"Also, what we have seen, in terms of young people is, more talking about mental health, particularly within school settings... and social media talks more about mental health. It's promoted much more. So, the fact that we're in conversations around mental health and naturally, it's leading to more young people seeking support, is really positive.
"So although yes, it's concerning to see numbers increase, actually we want to be able to offer support to more young people. That's a real ambition of the NHS."
One of the revelations from the survey is a substantial rise in safeguarding concerns within the past year (22/23).
With over 55% of respondents reporting an increase in safeguarding concerns, while only 3% reported a decrease.
Neglect, domestic abuse, and bullying, including cyberbullying, emerged as the top three concerns. Notably, self-harm also surfaced as a prevalent worry, with a noticeable upward trend.
The impact of school closures due to the pandemic is believed to have played a role in these trends, as 71% of governing boards reported an increase in safeguarding issues when asked as part of 2022’s annual survey.
Sam Henson, the Director of Policy and Communications, at the National Governance Association said:
"In the ever-changing post-pandemic educational landscape, one of our most important objectives must be to fortify the safeguarding of our children and young people. This year’s survey underscores the vital significance of sturdy policies, ongoing training, and nurturing open channels of communication to tackle these concerns effectively.
"The 2023 Annual Governance Survey emphasises the need for both boards and leaders to give top priority to the professional growth and training of themselves and their staff. Strengthening safeguarding policies and adeptly managing challenging behaviour necessitates a multifaceted strategy that confronts the root causes.”
The National Governance Association annual school and trust governance survey is the largest survey of its kind and provides an extensive overview of the governance of state funded schools in England. It was open to all school governors, trustees and academy committee members. In total, 2,695 respondents engaged with the survey.