The Government has announced a significant expansion of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). The new investment means six in ten pupils will have access to a mental health support team by March 2026, with the rollout prioritised based on NHS identification of local need and reaching the most vulnerable children first.

This is a vital step in recognising the importance of early intervention in schools. Read the full announcement here.

The King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People will transform our understanding and treatment of young people’s mental health through a unique collaboration between specialist clinicians from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and leading academics at King’s College London. Learn more about us.

This week we are delighted to welcome Sara Saunders as the new King’s Maudsley Partnership Programme Lead. This is a pivotal role in leading the strategic direction of Partnership. Sara is a mental health nurse by background and most recently worked at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust, leading the operational delivery of an alliance of NHS and VCSE partners providing the Emotional Well-being and Mental Health services for Children and Young People in Surrey. Prior to that she was at NHS England within the children and young people’s policy team, leading the implementation of Mental Health Support Teams in schools.

Sara joins following the departure of Sarah Holloway who started as the Chief Executive of the Maudsley Charity last month.

While research on CYP’s mental health and wellbeing is growing, the interventions available often fail to address the specific needs of schools. Many are too costly to implement, do not align with school priorities, or lack a strong evidence base. This leaves a gap between available research and the practical needs of school communities.

To bridge this gap, the School Mental Health Innovation Network (SMHIN) is being established by the Maudsley Education Consultation Service in collaboration with King’s Maudsley Partnership for Children and Young People, and the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health. This initiative aims to equip schools with tailored, evidence-based interventions and resources that address the specific mental health and wellbeing concerns in their school communities, in a way that is relevant and accessible.

Launching the SMHIN with an interactive workshop

On 11 December 2024, the School Mental Health Innovation Network (SMHIN) launched its first workshop. This event, sponsored by the Maudsley Charity, brought together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, school leaders and young people to discuss ways to improve the mental health and wellbeing (MH&WB) support for young people in South London schools.

The workshop featured presentations from clinicians and researchers about current MH&WB initiatives, as well as from school leads and young people about their concerns and priorities. The day also included poster presentations, panels with key speakers, and roundtable discussions providing participants with an opportunity to delve deeper into key topics, share perspectives, and collaborate on potential solutions. Some of the key themes that emerged from discussions included:

• The importance of collaboration: emphasising the need for a multidisciplinary approach to mental health in schools, bridging the knowledge and experiences of clinicians, researchers and school communities.
• Tailored interventions for school communities: highlighting how schools differ in their needs and capacities, and exploring ways to adapt resources to reflect the diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and regional realities of school communities.
• The impact of social media on young people’s mental health: exploring benefits and challenges, highlighting the need for clearer guidance on how schools and families can navigate these platforms to support students’ wellbeing.

Feedback from the community

Feedback from the workshop was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed excitement, hope and gratitude for this initiative, highlighting the need for such a network.

Looking towards the future

The SMHIN team, led by Dr Jacqueline Phillips Owen and Professor Craig Morgan, is committed to building on the momentum of this inaugural workshop. Future events will go deeper into specific challenges and expand opportunities for schools to collaborate with researchers and clinicians.

In fostering these collaborations, the SMHIN brings to life the missions of the King’s Maudsley Partnership and the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, as it allows leading researchers, specialist clinicians and school communities to work together, combining their knowledge and expertise to improve the mental health and wellbeing support that’s accessible to young people across London.

Get in touch!

If you have any questions and/or would like to join the SMHIN, please email us at mecs@slam.nhs.uk and a member of our team will get in contact with you.