Welsh secondary schools ‘missing out’ on UK’s largest free mental health programme for schools

Welsh State Secondary Schools ‘Missing Out’ on Free Mental Health Programme Aimed at Addressing Increasing Teenage Suicide Rates

• The £5m scheme from Govox Wellbeing offers 1,000 UK state schools free access to its platform – with tens of thousands of pupils in England already signed up. But currently, no Welsh secondary schools are set to take part
• Developed with input from NHSx, King’s College London, and independent medical experts, the platform is already used by leading independent schools
• Suicide among teenagers has increased by nearly 50% in the past decade, while one in 14 children have attempted suicide by the age of 17 – with the new programme aimed at identifying high-risk pupils

Earlier this year, Govox launched the largest ever mental health and wellbeing programme to take place in UK classrooms, offering its mental health and wellbeing platform – used by leading independent schools – for free to 1,000 state secondary schools across the UK that may not otherwise be able to afford it. 

The launch, backed by the Education Secretary at the time Nadhim Zahawi MP, has seen tens of thousands of pupils in England sign up through their school. However, so far, no schools in Wales have signed up to take part. With the 31 October deadline fast approaching, state secondary schools in Wales are being urged to sign up to avoid missing out on receiving the free programme.

Why is it needed and how does it work? 

The £5m programme from Govox follows shocking official figures, which show that suicide rates amongst teens have increased by 45% over the past decade. In addition, research from the British Journal of Psychiatry suggests that one in 14 (seven per cent) children have tried to end their life by the age of 17. The Govox Wellbeing Schools programme is focused on directly addressing this, by creating an early warning system for at-risk children and increasing the chances of successful intervention. 

Pupils involved in the Govox Schools Programme complete simple ‘check ins’ on the Govox Wellbeing platform, where they answer a set of short questions that analyse their overall mental health, providing a ‘wellbeing score’ and flagging any concerning findings, in particular highlighting any ‘high risk’ pupils. The platform is not only aimed at saving lives but improving them, by monitoring and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all pupils using the platform.

All state secondary schools in Wales are able to sign up now at govox.com/schools-partnership, with 100 places currently being specifically reserved for Welsh schools. This equates to more than half of all secondary schools in Wales. 

The Govox Wellbeing platform was developed with input from NHSx, King’s College London, psychologist and statistician Dr Sam Norton and independent medical expert Dr Thomas Danhausser. The programme is being delivered with the signposting support of suicide prevention charity The Jordan Legacy, The Mental Health Foundation, Local Mind, and Chasing the Stigma’s mental health service directory app Hub of Hope, ensuring students have access to effective support. 

The programme will allow schools in Wales to assess pupils’ overall mental wellbeing, ability to cope with their work and exams, and any other pressures or issues they may be facing. It provides ongoing monitoring to make struggling pupils visible to schools, offers personal wellbeing reports on each pupil, and signposts to relevant organisations if external support is required. 

Richard Lucas, Founder of Govox Wellbeing, commented: “We truly want to make mental health support available to as many pupils in Wales as possible. Tight budgets should not stop them getting the help that, both the data and the personal experience of so many, shows is urgently needed. Whilst we’ve seen tens of thousands of pupils signed up through their schools in England, we’ve clearly not done enough to get the word out in Wales, so I’m urging leaders and mental health representatives in Welsh schools to sign up to the programme, so we can work together to ensure that any pupils who are struggling can be identified and get the help they need.”