WELLBE ING
We’re listening TWO YEARS OF LOCKDOWNS PUT CHI LDREN’ S MENTAL HEALTH IN THE SPOTL IGHT. WI TH THE HELP OF CHAR I T I ES , SCHOOLS ARE TAK ING STEPS TO ADDRESS THE I SSUE
ne consequence of the pandemic has been increased focus on children’s wellbeing. But even before the upheaval of the past two years, schools were becoming aware that more help was needed to protect the emotional and mental health of pupils. In 2016, formal support was offered by just 36% of schools. By 2019, this had risen to 66%, with almost three-quarters of staff reporting they felt better equipped to spot and act on problems of this nature. O
Fast-forward to 2022, and school leaders are having to deal with the true extent of fallout from Covid-19, reporting a significant increase in the percentage of pupils with low self-esteem, depression and feelings of anger. And there’s a huge mismatch between the numbers needing professional help and a school’s ability to access it. As a result, sadly, many young people aren’t getting the support needed. That’s not to say no help is available – you just have to know where to look.
One charity, Place2Be, offers free mental health training to those working with primary and secondary pupils, helping them understand some of the influences on mental health and wellbeing. They also teach how to read children’s behaviour as a way of communicating feelings. It’s an area schools in Cambridgeshire are investing in, with a high proportion providing dedicated wellbeing resources, often including trained counsellors. Getting in touch is straightforward
CAMBR IDGE EDUCAT ION GUIDE 55
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