Schools and young people’s mental health
Schools play a key role in supporting children’s mental health. We work in partnership with schools across South London to develop and deliver evidence-based programmes that make a real difference to children and young people's mental health. Identifying issues early can prevent long-term difficulties, and school is the perfect place to help young people learn how to look after their wellbeing.
Our approach
We work closely with schools in three key areas:
Research and innovation
We develop evidence-based interventions designed to ensure that every programme delivered in schools is as impactful as possible. We bring research into practice through the School Mental Health Innovation Network.
Data
Providing schools with data-driven needs assessments through the Maudsley Education Consultation Service (MECS).
Intervention
We deliver clinically led, need-and-tested programmes across all age groups, with a particular focus on children most likely to develop mental health conditions, including those with neurodevelopmental conditions.
The challenge
One in five children and young people had a probable mental disorder in 2023. Long waiting lists and limited access to support have contributed to a significant rise in school absenteeism. Absence from school has a direct impact on educational attainment, life chances, and long-term wellbeing.
There is a clear need for school-based early intervention where children and young people can receive support from trusted adults away from clinical or stigmatising settings.
Dr Jacqueline Phillips-Owen, Clinical Psychologist and Schools Lead for the King’s Maudsley Partnership
DISCOVER Implementation Study and BESST
The DISCOVER workshop is a one-day programme for 16–18-year-olds. It teaches practical tools to manage stress, anxiety, and low mood using cognitive behavioural techniques.
Professor June Brown, a Clinical Psychology professor at King’s College London, led BESST (Brief Educational Workshops in Secondary Schools Trial). This large study involved 900 students across four regions in England. It aimed to see if the DISCOVER day-long workshop could help 16- to 18-year-olds improve their mental health.
BESST found that the DISCOVER workshop was both clinically and cost-effective when NHS Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) delivered it in schools and colleges.
The DISCOVER Implementation (DI) Study builds on this success. This study looks at how to include DISCOVER in routine MHST services in schools and colleges, as well as fully integrating the programme into NHS services. This way, adolescents can easily access the mental health support they need during this important time.
Find out more about the DISCOVER Implementation Study
Maudsley Education Consultation Service (MECS)
We provide schools and Mental Health Support Teams with data-driven assessments of student mental health and wellbeing needs, highlighting student, parent and staff voices, to improve the support available to young people at school.
School Resilience Project
Find out how we work with schools to assess, plan, deliver and review mental health support, tailored to the needs of their whole community.
CUES
CUES is a successful and innovative early intervention programme for primary aged children – developed by Clinical Psychologists and CBT Therapists from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
It uses evidence-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and was created using feedback from children and teens. They highlighted the need to learn about mental health from a young age. This feedback comes from years of work at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.