Isle Listen's Schools Team receives 170 referrals in five months

Mental health charity operating in Manx schools since 2020

A Manx mental health charity working in the Island's schools says it's had 170 student referrals in five months of this academic year.

Isle Listen's Schools Team has been providing mental health support and education since 2020.

Since September last year it says 137 young people have been helped by its Wellbeing Practitioners.

Its team will be providing a full educational programme in 29 primary schools this year, as well as delivering sessions in all the Island’s secondary schools and UCM.

In a recent interview with Manx Radio, Education Minister Julie Edge discussed the charity's work, and how the third sector was 'filling a gap in mental health provision' and that evidence showed a legacy of mental health issues since the Covid pandemic.

Isle Listen says it will 'continue to work with colleagues in Education and Health to ensure young people’s mental health is supported at the point of early intervention, avoiding crisis situations and limiting the likelihood of any long-term issues developing.'

It adds: 'We are delighted to see that the Department of Education Sport and Culture highlight the importance of mental health support for children and young people, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Department going forward.'