SCHOOLS in Wales must be given dedicated funding for supporting children’s mental health, a report has said.

A report by the Welsh Assembly’s Young People and Education Committee, which is chaired by Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle, has said the Welsh Government must do far more in supporting the emotional and mental health of young people.

Among the report’s recommendations are for schools to be given ring-fenced funding for supporting young peoples’ mental health, embedding emotional and mental health in the new curriculum and offering training in mental health awareness to anyone working with youngsters.

Other recommendations include providing guidance to schools in talking about suicide and self-harm, increasing the availability of psychological therapies for young people, with a particular focus on adopted and looked-after children.

Ms Neagle said: “It is estimated that three children in every average sized classroom will have a mental health issue.

“By the age of 14, half of all mental health problems will have already begun.

“To stem the flow, a major step change is needed in the priority given to supporting the emotional resilience and well-being of children and young people in Wales.

“The time has come to put mind over matter and deliver appropriate, timely and effective emotional support for our children and young people."

She added: “Preventative and early intervention support needs urgent attention and should be a stated national priority for the Welsh Government.

“Failure to deliver at this end of the pathway will lead to our children and young people suffering unnecessary distress.

“As it stands, the pieces of the jigsaw that need to be in place to enable children and young people to be supported outside the most specialist settings simply do not exist.

“This is unacceptable and must be addressed urgently by the Welsh Government.”