Roz McCall MSP has expressed her support for Fife College student’s campaign to save counselling courses.
This follows a campaign and petition led by Fife College’s students in which they achieved over 600 signatures in a matter of days. The students at Fife College argued mental health support continues to be needed in colleges.
Ms McCall has today, taken this issue directly to the Scottish Government, by writing to the Minister for Higher and Further Education, in which she relayed her support for Fife College student’s campaign about the future provision of mental health support services within colleges and universities and also further pressed the Minister about current mental health provisions.
Roz McCall MSP further emphasised that a full-blown mental health crisis is unfolding in our universities, as has been pointed out previously. Last year, almost every university reported a sharp increase in the number of mental health support requests, with the number of students coming forward almost tripling compared with the number 10 years ago.
Roz McCall MSP has said that any such decision to cut counselling services will have a huge impact on student’s wellbeing both now and in the future.
Roz McCall MSP said:
’It is completely unacceptable that Fife College are proposing cutting counselling courses, and I fully support the student’s petition to stop these cuts.
‘’We know that the majority of mental health conditions begin before the age of 14, so having the support provision available in our universities and colleges is essential now and in the coming years.
‘’However, I understand that Fife College are operating within effective real terms cut in funding from the Scottish Government and tough decisions have to be made.
‘’I have therefore written to the Minister for Further and Higher Education seeking urgent clarity on his position in regard to mental health counsellor courses, current mental health provision in our colleges and what more the Scottish Government intends to do to secure these services in the future.’’
