MORE than 4,500 children will be able to talk through their anxieties and problems following the launch of a school-based counselling service.
Ealing has 10 schools selected to provide The Place2Be’s one-to-one and group counselling as part of the Targeted Mental Health in Schools Pathfinder Programme.
The charity offers support for parents, families and teachers and helps reduce the number of children excluded from primary schools.
Steve Pound, MP for Ealing North and Ian Jenkins, Acting Borough Commander of Ealing Police, attended the launch event at St John's Primary School in Felix Road, West Ealing, on Thursday.
Benita Refson OBE, Chief Executive of The Place2Be, said: "We are committed to helping children at a very early age so they go on to make healthy choices in life. Statistics show 10 percent of five to 15-year-olds have a diagnosed mental health problem, 80 percent of children who show behavioural problems at the age of five go on to develop more anti-social behaviour and over 90 percent of young offenders have had a mental health problem as children.
"However, support from The Place2Be can reduce these figures and avert such problems developing in later life."
Rosie Paterson, Ealing hub manager for The Place2Be said: "The schools in Ealing have worked for some time to secure the services and we are delighted to be working together to improve the emotional well-being of children, their families and the whole school community."
The ten schools taking part in the initiative are: Gifford, Greenwood, Horsenden, Oldfield, Petts Hill, Ravenor, St John’s, Viking, Willow Tree and Wood End Infant School.
For more information, visit www.theplace2be.org.uk
