An argument for school-funded counselling for children in Years 1-8

Abstract

Overview – we know that children can benefit from counselling in schools; Why not provide counselling more freely in Years 1-8? This presentation gives evidence of the need for mental health and wellbeing support services for children in Years 1-8 in Aotearoa New Zealand It also presents evidence of the benefits to children (and families and schools) from counselling, including to their mental health and school learning and attendance outcomes. Lasty, it proposes an argument for school-funded counselling for children in Years 1-8 (as is the case for young people in Years 9-13)