Main reason Sutherland school pupils seek counselling is for anxiety, county committee is told
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A TOTAL of 115 pupils in Sutherland schools have received counselling in the last two years, members of Sutherland County Committee have been told.
The committee considered a report on school counselling services in the county at its meeting at Highland Council area headquarters at Drummie, Golspie, last month.
The report stated: "For the period January 2021-December 2022 approximately 115 children and young people in the Sutherland ASGs (Associated School Groups) received counselling."
Anxiety was said to be the reason behind a third of the referrals and counselling was given both face-to face as well as online.
Other referrals were for issues such as trauma, self harm, body image, low mood and emotional or behavioural needs.
According to the report counselling has been available to all pupils from aged 10 upwards in Scottish schools free of charge since 2021.
The service is fully funded by the Scottish Government and is delivered in Highland by a range of private organisations and third sector services on behalf of Highland council.
The report states: "Pupils generally are able to access counselling very timely, as would be expected for an early intervention service."
Councillors heard that NHS Highland now also provided a fully online counselling and support service called Kooth which was being promoted in schools.
