This report is an evaluation of the Counselling in Schools program in New Zealand, a government initiative to support the mental health needs of students in primary, intermediate, and small secondary schools. The program was rolled out in response to the rising mental health needs of young people in New Zealand, exacerbated by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The program aims to provide accessible, evidence-based counselling support to students with mild to moderate needs, delivered directly within the school environment. 

The evaluation examined its reach, implementation, and impact on student outcomes, finding that the program is effective in reducing psychological distress and improving attendance, learning progress, and classroom behaviour. 

Findings

1. Investing in psychological support in primary schools can reduce distress and improve learning, attendance, and behaviour outcomes. 
2. Counselling in primary schools works best when on the school site, and when students receive more than three hours of support.
3. Having multiple referral pathways by teachers, students, parents and whānau, is potentially important in order to capture students who do not exhibit obvious signs of distress.
4. Counselling in Schools’ approach to delivery is clearly effective in improving students’ mental health and other important outcomes, however, more research is needed to be sure it can be effectively replicated in a wider range of schools.