Borders counselling service in schools being well used

by EWAN LAMB

The number of Borders school pupils receiving counselling for mental health and emotional issues last year was significantly higher than in many similar sized Scottish local authorities, and markedly above the level in neighbouring Dumfries and Galloway which is a larger council with more schools and considerably more children in education.

A set of statistics covering all 32 of Scotland's local government area in response to a FOI request has revealed numbers of children and young people accessing counselling during the six month period from January to June 2022. The extensive coverage of the topic, based on returns from each council, also indicates outcomes and trends encountered by the various counselling teams.

Scottish Borders Council, which has approximately 16,500 pupils in its education service outsourced its new mental health and emotional well-being service to social care charity Quarriers several years ago.

In the half-year covered by the reports, 493 Borders pupils accessed in-person provision being offered by Quarriers. This compared to a figure of 263 out of the 18,700 pupils in Dumfries and Galloway.

The numbers in Borders were also above those receiving counselling in East Lothian (160 pupils), Fife (456), Midlothian (179), Inverclyde (95), and Moray (458). The 493 Borders pupils included 43 who were attending primary schools.

A breakdown of the counselling statistics submitted by the Borders council shows the following for each school year: Number of children in P6 22;  P7 21. Number of children in S1 81; S2 124; S3 106; S4 70; S5 41; S6 28. 

The service being delivered by Quarriers appears to be achieving positive results.

According to the SBC return on so-called closed cases: "95% reported an improvement in their ‘Resilience’ 24% reported a reduction in ‘Risk Taking Activity’ 91% reported an improvement in their ‘Ability to Cope’ 45% reported an improvement in their ‘Confidence’ 64% reported an improvement in how they manage ‘Worry/Anxiety’ 14% reported an improvement in ‘Support’ from families and supportive adults."

The range of presenting issues has also been tabulated by the council.

"Presenting issues numbers Exam Stress 37; Self-Harm 57; Trauma 19; Depression 105; Bereavement  14;  Anxiety 238; Gender Identity 12; Emotional/Behavioural Difficulties 150; Substance Use 7; Body Image 33; Other Suicidal Ideation 15; Other Disordered Eating 28; Other Sleep Hygiene 32; Other Confidence/Low Self-Esteem 144; Other Relationship Issues 73."

The comments and reflections section of the Borders authority's return includes the following observations: "We have noted a significant rise in young males accessing the service. 170 male pupils accessed support during this reporting period compared to 134 in the previous report. This is an increase of 27%. 

"We continue to provide emotional health and wellbeing support to Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils in the cluster areas of Galashiels, Selkirk and Hawick. During this reporting period, we have noted a significant increase in the number of young people in Primary 6 accessing the service (22), compared to 0 in the previous reporting period."

Quarriers explain their service accepts referrals from school Pastoral Staff as well as operating a self-referral and a supported self-referral system. To self-refer, young people are able to make direct contact with the service. Alternatively, a supported self-referral enables parents and professionals to support young people to make contact with the service. 

"Using this method of referral enables young people to take ownership and responsibility of their own mental health and emotional wellbeing. Young people often present with more than one presenting issue and thus there will be more themes counted than cases opened. Depression counted as those young people presenting with ‘low mood’ and not necessarily a clinical diagnosis of Depression. Anxiety counted as those young people presenting with ‘feelings of anxiousness’ and not necessarily a clinical diagnosis of Anxiety."

Scottish Borders Council has been asked for comment.