Daily roundup 12 March: Mental health, smoking, and first aid

Official figures published today show record number of young people are being admitted to hospital for self-harm, eating disorders, depression and other psychological disorders. Emergency admissions for psychiatric conditions rose to 17,278 last year, double the number four years ago. There were 15,668 admissions of young women aged 15 to 19 for self-harming compared with 9,255 admissions in 2004, reports the Times.


MPs have voted three to one in favour of introducing standardised packaging for cigarettes in the UK. It means from 2016 every packet will look the same except for the make and brand name, with graphic photos accompanying health warnings if the House of Lords also approves the move. More than 600 children aged 11 to 15 start to smoke every day - more than 200,000 a year, reports the BBC.


All nursery staff will be trained in life-saving first aid skills within three years, the government will announce. Sam Gyimah, the childcare minister, will today set out plans for all new staff to have level two and three first aid training if they want to work in nurseries. Nurseries with 100 per cent trained first aid staff will be able to display a new kitemark scheme from next year and they will form part of Ofsted inspections of nurseries, reports the Telegraph.


Roger Stone, the former leader of Rotherham Council, has dismissed an MP’s suggestion that it would be “right and proper” for him to give back his OBE over the child sexual exploitation scandal in the town. Stone, who led the Labour-run local authority from 2003 until last year, was given his honour in 2009 for services to local government. During his time in charge of the South Yorkshire council, hundreds of girls were groomed for abuse by organised groups of men, reports the Times.


The National Children’s Bureau has published advice for schools to better support pupils with mental health issues and to promote wellbeing as part of school life. Challenges to schools include the misuse of social media and cyberbullying, which are identified as major causes in the rise in emotional disorders. Based on findings from a systematic review of international best practice and research, the framework outlines effective approaches that include professional learning and staff development; adopting whole-school thinking; and developing robust policies to underpin a supportive environment.


The College of Social Work has launched a national campaign to give social work a strong public voice and calls on the next government to support the profession. The Real Social Work campaign manifesto sets out five key commitments the next government should make to help Real Social Work thrive, including increased investment for social work and changing the current children’s social care inspection framework. The college is calling on its 16,000-strong base of members to share the five-point plan with election candidates, to make sure that all parties understand and value the vital contribution of social workers.