Commenting on the publication of the report of Professor Peter Fonagy’s , Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The Fonagy Report findings that young people today are not 'snowflakes' and that the steep increase in mental health conditions is related to greater educational pressures, social media, loneliness and insecure housing.
“Adding yet more tests at year 8 will add to pressure at school, whereas the government ought to focus on reducing it.
“Young people need day one access to mental health assessment and support. Too many are waiting too long for initial appointments, facing deteriorating mental health and missing vital education in the meantime. Teachers are not specialists and cannot carry on picking up the pieces.
“The report makes clear that the government needs to act now to turn the mental health crisis facing young people around and to give them a positive future.”