In the past several years, mental health has been a key focus in schools in the UK, and rightly so. With increasing levels of anxiety, stress, and depression in students, schools now take on an important role in providing emotional and psychological support to young people. Whether it be through pastoral care teams or various government backed initiatives, there are now more and more ways of providing a safety net to help ensure that every child can access help for their mental health.
Why is Mental Health Support in Schools Important?
Children spend a lot of their time in schools and schools provide one of the most important environments for detecting and addressing mental health difficulties early on.
Poor mental health can impact:
- Attendance and focus on learning
- Academic progress
- Relationships with peers and teachers
- Overall wellbeing and self-esteem
When we offer supportive early interventions, we can try to limit situations getting worse and help children before they find their education or personal development becomes compromised.
Categories of Mental Health Support in Schools in England
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Pastoral Care
Most schools in England provide a pastoral care team, which is responsible for offering emotional support, mentoring and wellbeing checks. Students can speak to a pastoral lead or form tutor, in private, about any issues affecting them.
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Counsellors
Many secondary schools employ qualified counsellors who offer one-to-one sessions for young people experiencing anxiety, grief or other personal issues. These sessions are confidential, based on students’ needs and working collaboratively.
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Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs)
Launched by the UK government, MHSTs are NHS teams who work with schools to offer early intervention for young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health needs. MHSTs provide group therapy, workshops and staff training and, by 2025, these teams are expected to roll out to most schools in England .
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Educational Psychologists
For cases of more complex needs, educational psychologists assess students with emotional or behavioural difficulties. They work with the school to create tailored support plans and provide an educational option for teachers about how to support these students in class.
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Wellbeing Programmes and Workshops
Many schools organise events relating to stress management, exam anxiety and stress reduction, etc, to teach students resilience and how to manage their emotions.
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Peer support and Student Wellbeing Ambassadors
Some schools have developed programs where students support each other with the help of a peer mentoring programme. Trained student peers are on staff, listen and support other students and refer to staff when necessary, creating an out the program where students feel comfortable and supported.
Government and Charity Initiatives
In addition to the above guidelines, there are also national programmes and charities that offer additional support and resources for staff and training for schools, including:
- MindEd: provides free online learning for teachers, parents and young people on the subject of mental health.
- YoungMinds: provides resources, advice and campaigns to improve mental health services for children and young people.
- Place2Be: provide school-based counselling and emotional wellbeing services.
- Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families: training, toolkits and research on mental health in education.
- Kooth: an online counselling and wellbeing platform that many students in the UK can access for free.
How Schools Support the Wellbeing of Staff As Well
A number of schools appreciate that teacher wellbeing has an influence on students’ mental health. Staff now receive training in mental health awareness, mental health support networks, and are encouraged to develop positive, inclusive classroom atmospheres.
What Parents Can Do
Parents can provide important support for their child’s mental health. You could:
- Keep communication open with your child and their teachers.
- Support healthy routines around sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
- Reach out to the school if you observe changes in the child’s mood or behaviour.
- Explore reputable mental health resources, like YoungMinds Parents Helpline.
Conclusion
Support for mental health has changed within schools in the UK, moving from a responsive model to a responsible model of wellbeing promotion. As dedicated counselors and national plans like MHSTs become more available, the country has more resources than ever for young people who experience emotional and educational difficulties. Incontinued partnership between schools and parents and communities will help create a consistent and supportive place for every student inside and outside the UK education system.