A GROUP to tackle mental health issues amongst students will be set up at Gloucestershire County Council.

Councillors agreed to create the cross party task group at a full council meeting on Wednesday after a motion was proposed by cllr Joe Harris, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for children and young people.

The group will work with school sixth forms, further education colleagues, universities, the Gloucestershire Suicide Prevention Partnership Forum and providers of mental health services to write a report with recommendations which will be presented at GCC in February, 2017.

Cllr Brian Oosthuysen (Lab, Rodborough), Labour group spokesperson for public health, said: “I think this is a fantastic and much needed motion.

“Mental health issues in young people is a growing concern and I happy to lend my support to this.”

Cllr Joe Harris, (Lib Dem, Cirencester Park), said: “It's great to see that mental health has shot up the agenda in recent years, much more still needs to be done in our schools, colleges and universities to properly address mental illnesses amongst students.

“I'm proud that as a council we take mental health so seriously and I hope the motion that we've passed today will be the first step in finding a solution to the student mental health crisis."

To see the full motion visit bit.ly/297UQhA