Our Head of Policy and Public Affairs featured in The Guardian highlighting our campaign for government-funded counselling in every secondary school, academy and further education college.

In a letter to the editor, Martin Bell said that funded school counselling was vital to provide timely support and to ease the strain on the NHS.

Martin quoted statistics from our recent survey of school staff about the impact of school counselling, with 86% of respondents saying it’s helped improve attendance and 72% saying it helped to improve academic attainment.

He said: “School counselling is a non-stigmatising and effective form of early intervention for reducing psychological distress.

“It has a positive effect on confidence, resilience, sense of self-worth, family relationships, friendships, school attendance and academic achievement.

“Government funding is urgently needed to provide more school counsellors to offer life-changing support for young people in need.”

Martin’s letter was also quoted in the Daily Express in an article examining the mental health impact of COVID-19.

School counselling

Our school counselling survey also featured on the Children and Young People Now and Happiful websites with comment from Jo Holmes, our Children, Young People and Families Lead.

Caroline Jesper, our Head of Professional Standards, spoke to the Daily Telegraph about how to train as a counsellor.

Our former Chair Lynne Gabriel was featured in the York Press after being appointed an OBE, while member Pam Duxbury made the Manchester Evening News for her British Empire Medal in the Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours.​

Natasha Page spoke about the challenges schools and teachers can face when addressing mental health as she introduced a series of videos on BBC Teach which aim to help generate classroom discussions on the topic.

Metro shone the spotlight on Anthony Davis for a feature celebrating LGBTQ+ healthcare heroes for Pride month.

Andrew Harvey also contributed to an article in Metro, this time offering tips to help people feel better in the morning.

And Metro included comment from Jade Thomas in a piece looking at what to do if you call your partner by an ex’s name, and from Heidi Soholt and Nicola Vanlint for an article on successfully juggling a job and side hustles.

Nicola, meanwhile, was the focus of a feature on a day in the life of a psychotherapist on the Belle About Town website.

Members in the media

Pallvi Davé spoke to the Huff Post for an article providing tips on improving work-life balance, while Louise Tyler also spoke to the Huff Post about the reasons people overshare on social media.

Anjula Mutanda shared her expertise with the Guardian for an article exploring so called fexting, or arguing via text message. Her comments also appeared in the Sun.

Also in the Guardian, Arabella Russell contributed to the Annalisa Barbieri column which addresses family-related problems.

Cate Campbell gave her expert advice to PA on how commuters and travellers can manage their stress levels during the train strikes, and an advice column for the Female First website.

Harriet Frew provided expert comment for an article in Refinery 29 examining body checking, while Abby Rawlinson discussed people making announcements on social media with Elle magazine.