WELLBEING
Mind matters Mental health has a huge bearing on children’s attendance, achievements and enjoyment at school, hence it’s a key area of focus for schools a sense of comfort, happiness and good health are likely to be found somewhere in the mix. Children also have mature insights into their state of wellbeing and its importance. When more than half a million were asked by the Children’s Commissioner, the majority – 80% – were positive about their mental health, happiness at home and education. That does, however, leave 20% who expressed concerns – especially about their mental health, something that has a direct impact on the number of children who are struggling to attend school, not because they’re disaffected, but because poor mental health makes it impossible for them to make it through the doors. Some children will experience serious mental health issues that need specialist, long-term support from NHS healthcare professionals and currently, access is a huge problem. In 2023/24, nearly 80,000 young people waited in excess of a year to be treated by CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) – an sk children what wellbeing means to them and although some might express it differently,
8 AUTUMN/WINTER 2025
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