Brighton and Hove Citizens, a civil society alliance representing 50,000 people, is calling for urgent action to address a “mental health emergency” among the young.
It said early intervention to support pupils with mental health would help save the health service money in the longer term.
Shelley Baker, headteacher at Varndean School in Brighton who co-chairs the campaign group, said: “Thousands of young people could benefit from counselling. Many of their needs cannot simply be met by teachers any more and access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) isn’t possible.
“While a CAMHS referral costs £3,000, six counselling sessions only cost £450. Six sessions is what it usually takes to get someone back on track.”
Brighton and Hove City Council declared a mental health emergency last year, the first in the country to do so.
Ms Baker said while the council faces financial challenges it is “indisputable that the mental health crisis we’re facing is something that cannot be ignored”.
“Counselling should be seen as an investment, rather than a cost. Prevention is better than cure,” she said.
The petition has so far attracted 2,100 signatures in less than a week.
Annie Miller, a 16-year-old pupil at Cardinal Newman School in Hove, said she was “absolutely thrilled” so many people had signed the petition.
She said: “This is a serious matter and it is finally being recognised.
“I put my full trust in [council leader] Bella Sankey who clearly shared with us, when she met with us before Christmas, that she wanted to address this emergency.
“Things have been kept under the radar for too long.”
Councillor Sankey met the group last month to hear about the mental health experiences of young people in schools.
She said: “I welcome the campaign led by Brighton and Hove Citizens to address the mental health emergency in our schools and colleges.
“Last month, I welcomed school and college student campaigners to Hove Town Hall about their lived experience directly and later this month we are meeting again to discuss their proposals.
“Young people have been through so much in recent years, with the pandemic disrupting their education, socialising and futures.
“Now, with the cost-of-living crisis, deepening health inequalities and increasing numbers of people reaching crisis point, mental health should be at the top of everybody’s priority list.
“As your Labour council, we are absolutely committed to looking at the feasibility of investing in school and college-based counselling across the city.”
The petition can be found at actionnetwork.org/petitions/scbc.
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