Both investigator Åsa Lundkvist and Minister of Upper Secondary Education, Higher Education and Research Lotta Edholm (L) point out that children and young people are feeling increasingly worse.
Mental ill health among children and young people has developed into a societal problem, says Lotta Edholm at a press conference.
Deadline
Against this background, Åsa Lundkvist's assignment has been to propose how student health can work more broadly and effectively. One of the main proposals is to tighten the requirements for municipalities and independent schools with a deadline – a kind of care guarantee.
It should be possible for students who, for example, feel that "I have a stomachache or difficulty sleeping", to get help within seven days, says Åsa Lundkvist.
In addition, regular health checks will be expanded. Students will be guaranteed health visits or health consultations at least eight times during their primary and secondary school years.
Increased staffing
The responsibility of the principals is also expanded by requiring the principal of each school to create a staffing plan for student health, i.e. assess the staffing needs, based on an analysis of the students' needs. The professional groups involved are school doctors, school nurses, psychologists, health and medical care supervisors and special education teachers.
Furthermore, a provision is introduced regarding a minimum level of how often the various professional groups of student health should be present at the school and thus be able to meet the students face to face.
According to the proposal, for example, a school nurse should be on site every week, a psychologist every other week, and a school doctor every month. The aim of the proposals is to make student health equally accessible to all students, regardless of where in the country they live.
More staff
Overall, this requires a substantial increase in staff. According to the investigation, the costs for this would amount to 1.1 billion SEK per year.
It just shows that student health has been undersized, I would say, and that many children and young people do not get the help they need in the system we have today, says Lotta Edholm.
Previously, the inquiry, in a partial report, submitted proposals for support measures for students who have fallen behind or have problems keeping up with the teaching.
