A MOTION to try and tackle mental health problems in schools, colleges and universities will be debated at Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) next week, following reports that the number of students with such difficulties have ‘significantly increased’ in the last three years.

Following the results of a survey carried out last year by the Association of Colleges (AoC), in which 66 per cent of respondents said numbers of suffering students had increased, the Lib Dems put forward the motion, wanting GCC to conduct a thorough enquiry through the creation a ‘cross-party’ student mental health task group.

The plan would be to invite a number of agencies to determine the scope of the problem amongst students in the county’s 26 school sixth forms, four further education colleges and two universities.

The AoC survey, which was carried out in response to concerns about the increasing number of students with mental health difficulties in further education establishments, also found that 75 per cent of respondents felt that their college had ‘significant numbers’ of students who had undisclosed mental health issues.

Rises in the number of ambulance call outs at universities for incidents of self-harm and suicide attempts have also been recently reported by the national media.

Cllr. Joe Harris, Lib Dem spokesman for children and young people, who will be leading the debate next Wednesday (June 29), said: “It’s good to see that mental health has shot up the agenda in recent years, everyone at some point in their life will have some sort of mental health issue.

“I’ve had local colleges approach me directly with huge concern at the current situation and it is for this reason that we must do something to raise awareness and tackle the rising problem.

“Presently, we don’t know the true extent of the crisis in Gloucestershire, that’s why I want to see the creation of a task group to get a detailed picture of what’s going on and a comprehensive report with recommendations to be brought back to a future council meeting.”

“Schools, colleges and universities are experiencing a real challenge with the amount of students presenting with mental health problems. There is no formal funding available to provide support, this needs to change and I hope the motion I’m putting forward will start to address this issue in Gloucestershire.”

Cllr. Nigel Robbins, former principal of Cirencester Sixth Form College, who will be supporting the motion, said: “The national statistics speak for themselves, what we are seeing is an alarming increase in the number of mental health problems amongst the student population. The reason it’s a mental health crisis is because it deeply impacts on social cohesion, skills, economic development and opportunities for young people.

“As a former principal of a college I would like to know how big the problem is, here, in Gloucestershire and also what approaches are being taken across the area to support and monitor those students who are suffering from mental health issues.”