Schools focus on mental health
by Ben
School can be a tough place for some children, but it
becomes even harder when you have a mental health
problem. In January, the Prime Minster announced plans
to change widespread attitudes towards mental health,
whilst focusing on children and young adults.
This plan includes NHS specialist staff and mental health training for every secondary school. The Minster for Vulnerable Children and Families, Edward Timpson, said that this plan would ‘transform mental health services in schools’ he also acknowledged that it is vital that children get the help they need.
A study by ComRes researchers on behalf of BBC News School Report shows that most students have felt happy, but there
are still too many people with negative feelings over the past year. This includes over half of teenagers with mental health problems trying to cope alone.
The statistics suggest that most schools appoint older students as mentors, though this approach may not work because the older students aren’t as qualified as mentors should be.
becomes even harder when you have a mental health
problem. In January, the Prime Minster announced plans
to change widespread attitudes towards mental health,
whilst focusing on children and young adults.
This plan includes NHS specialist staff and mental health training for every secondary school. The Minster for Vulnerable Children and Families, Edward Timpson, said that this plan would ‘transform mental health services in schools’ he also acknowledged that it is vital that children get the help they need.
A study by ComRes researchers on behalf of BBC News School Report shows that most students have felt happy, but there
are still too many people with negative feelings over the past year. This includes over half of teenagers with mental health problems trying to cope alone.
The statistics suggest that most schools appoint older students as mentors, though this approach may not work because the older students aren’t as qualified as mentors should be.
70% of people experienced unhappy feelings
11% of people described themselves as unhappy overall 86% of people described themselves as happy overall |
18% said that the help they were offered at school for their worries and concerns as "poor"
66% said that the help they were offered at school for their worries and concerns as "good" 50% said there was an allocated teacher they could talk to about worries or concerns 15% said their schools had appointed older students as mentors |
Mental Health is something that affects all schools around the UK including Trinity. Ms Ward, the Head of Psychology at the school, talked to us about the issue at our school.
She said that the most commonly diagnosed conditions in schools are Depression and Anxiety, for example Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Phobias. She also said that other conditions have afflicted alumni, and still afflict current pupils.
However, Ms Ward also said, “It is important to note a distinction between mental health issues and mental health disorders. A disorder is a diagnosable illness, such as bipolar disorder or agoraphobia. A mental health issue is the sort of thing we are all likely to encounter from time to time, when we feel upset, confused or worried.”
Many people wonder what causes these afflictions. Many psychologists are advocates for the idea that disorders are biological, and others advocate the nature vs nurture approach.
However, Ms Ward is certain that experiencing difficulties in our lifetime makes us more liable to both mental and physical illnesses.
There are extra stresses on children today, such as the pressure of having the perfect life, especially since social media has become more important in children’s everyday lives. There are also more important exams which happen more often in a child’s school career.
Mrs Sanders, the Head of Safeguarding at Trinity, also spoke to us about mental health at our school.
She said, “It is important to acknowledge that, when a young person is dealing with poor mental health, it is very personal to them and every one of these can be experienced in different ways.”
Mental Health is obviously an issue taken very seriously at Trinity School. As awareness increases, hopefully fewer school children will have to suffer in silence.
She said that the most commonly diagnosed conditions in schools are Depression and Anxiety, for example Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Phobias. She also said that other conditions have afflicted alumni, and still afflict current pupils.
However, Ms Ward also said, “It is important to note a distinction between mental health issues and mental health disorders. A disorder is a diagnosable illness, such as bipolar disorder or agoraphobia. A mental health issue is the sort of thing we are all likely to encounter from time to time, when we feel upset, confused or worried.”
Many people wonder what causes these afflictions. Many psychologists are advocates for the idea that disorders are biological, and others advocate the nature vs nurture approach.
However, Ms Ward is certain that experiencing difficulties in our lifetime makes us more liable to both mental and physical illnesses.
There are extra stresses on children today, such as the pressure of having the perfect life, especially since social media has become more important in children’s everyday lives. There are also more important exams which happen more often in a child’s school career.
Mrs Sanders, the Head of Safeguarding at Trinity, also spoke to us about mental health at our school.
She said, “It is important to acknowledge that, when a young person is dealing with poor mental health, it is very personal to them and every one of these can be experienced in different ways.”
Mental Health is obviously an issue taken very seriously at Trinity School. As awareness increases, hopefully fewer school children will have to suffer in silence.