Counselling in some primary schools in Cavan from September

The Department of Education is set to establish county panels of pre-approved experienced counsellors as part of a landmark programme of counselling and mental health supports to be piloted in selected primary schools from September 2023.

It follows an announcement back in May that, for first time ever, clusters of primary schools will be able to avail of significant counselling services through a €5 million pilot programme.

The first strand will see primary schools in counties Cavan, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, and Tipperary have the opportunity to avail of supports.

The new programme is designed to recognise the impact of COVID-19 on primary school-aged children and will work to mitigate the mental health challenges, which may be experienced in schools.

Recently schools in the first strand of the pilot, which includes Cavan and Monaghan, were invited to an online meeting with NEPS on June 27 for further information.

“This meeting was well attended, with positive engagement from school principals who were assured of continuing NEPS support for them as the pilot is implemented,” stated Minister Norma Foley, who adds that “considerable work” has been undertaken and this new programme will be further rolled out.

Chosen counsellors will be accredited members of either the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP) or the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP).

The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) will meanwhile provide a strong induction programme to familiarise the counsellors on the panel with the education sector.

“In line with the Department’s Continuum of Support, a child will be prioritised for counselling following a period of school-based intervention, with evidence that, despite intervention, the child has not made adequate progress. Psychologists from NEPS will work with schools to identify and support the prioritisation of those most in need of access to this counselling support.”

A total of 78 schools across Cork, Dublin 7, Dublin 16 and Carlow are included in the second strand of the pilot.

“The scheme is not a substitute for services provided by HSE Primary Care Psychology or CAMHS. NEPS have liaised with the HSE in relation to the development of the pilot and will continue to do so throughout the pilot,” said Minister Foley. “An evaluation of the pilot will be carried out and I am confident that we will take valuable learnings from this pilot.”