CAPTION: Exeter MP David Reed was deeply moved by the letters from the students
Students pen 1000 Letters to Exeter MP Advocating for Better Mental Health Support
Students from a secondary school in Devon have been sharing their experiences of mental health by writing nearly 1000 letters to their local MP.
In Autumn term of 2024, St Peter’s Church of England Aided School in Exeter were given the opportunity to vote for an issue they felt needed addressing in our country.
Jonny Baker, Deputy Headteacher at the school, said, “As a school, we’re keen to develop young people who will make our world a better place.”
“From this, the students chose to focus on the lack of mental health provision for young people across the nation.”
It was from this that the students wrote close to 1000 letters to their local MP, David Reed, highlighting the concerns about the lack of support for the mental health and wellbeing of young people nationwide.
David Reed MP was so moved by the volume of letters, and the nature of the personal stories that were shared, that he raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Question’s with Keir Starmer in the House of Commons.
David said during Prime Minister’s Question’s earlier this year, “Before Christmas, I received nearly 1000 handwritten letters from pupils at St Peter’s secondary school in Exeter.
“Each letter strongly advocated for greater support to tackle the mental health challenges faced by young people, with many sharing deeply unsettling personal stories.”
“I am committed to improving local mental health services to help young people build the resilience they need to live happy and healthy lives. However, I know these challenges are not unique to my constituency and are being faced by children across our country. So can the Prime Minister please outline what steps his government are taking to enhance mental health support for our children nationwide?”
The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, replied, “I thank the hon. Member for raising an issue of huge concern in his constituency and in all constituencies.”
“Far too many young people are not receiving the care that they need, so we will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, recruit an additional 8,500 staff to deal with children’s and adult mental health services, and roll out our Young Futures hubs in every community.”
Earlier this term, David returned to St Peter’s Church of England Aided School and was interviewed by students during a time of Collective Worship.
Jonny Baker said, “One of the questions posed by students to David was again around mental health and whether he had any further updates.”
“Encouragingly, David Reed shared that based on our students letters he had gone away and spoken to the Royal Marines and Exeter University and together they are looking to produce a resilience course to help develop ‘mental fitness’.”
“We remain in conversation with David and are enthusiastic about the potential good that can come from this work. Exciting times!”
The Archdeacon of Exeter, who is a Governor at the school, said, “Young people’s mental health and wellbeing is one of the most urgent issues of our time. It’s complex, often painful, and demands our collective courage and compassion.
“At St Peter’s School, students embodied our Character Compass values, wisdom, courage, compassion and community, by writing 1,000 letters to our MP, a bold act of collective actions that was recognised in the highest level in the House of Commons
“As a nation, we must listen, respond, to the needs of young people…remembering Jesus’ call to love our neighbour, this includes our teenage neighbours. My enormous thanks to our School Chaplain, Mr Baker and the ICE team who led the letter writing campaign.”
Sue Lockwood, Diocesan Director of Education, said, “It is great that these young people are using their agency to speak up and take action to address issues of importance.”
“Courageous Advocacy is an integral part of Church of England schools’ education. It is brilliant to hear that pupils at St Peter’s Secondary CofE School are both empowered to speak up and can see they are having a positive impact in shaping the world around them.”
