Liberal Democrats pledge a mental health professional in every school.

“Our children have been abandoned in the mess created in 14 years of Conservative decline.” 

• Liberal Democrats plan a mental health professional in every primary and secondary school 
• Funding would come from trebling the Digital Services Tax, raising an extra £1.5 billion a year 
• 6,725* children and young people in our area are on mental health waiting lists with an average wait time of more than six months 

Research commissioned by the Liberal Democrats from official documents reveals in the Surrey Heartlands* NHS area, which covers the Guildford constituency, 6,725 children and young people are on mental health waiting lists, with average waits of 189 days.  

• The Liberal Democrat manifesto will include a commitment to a mental health professional in every primary and secondary school.  
• The Digital Services Tax is paid by companies, based on the revenues they earn from UK users of social media platforms, search engines and online marketplaces.  
• Trebling the rate would raise an extra £1.5 billion a year.  

Zöe Franklin said: “Every single child should have the opportunity to thrive, and the support they need to reach their full potential. Children and parents in Guildford and our villages are being left abandoned after 14 years of Conservative government decline. 

“A mental health professional in every primary and secondary school, funded by a tax on social media companies, means we can finally begin to give our children the best opportunity to succeed with their education.”