Primary schools given help to support pupils’ mental health

Resource also offers guidance for teachers looking to introduce a whole-school policy to address wellbeing
23rd January 2018, 12:04am

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Primary schools given help to support pupils’ mental health

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/primary-schools-given-help-support-pupils-mental-health
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All primary schools will be able to access resources to support pupils’ mental health through a website launched today.

The website, Mentally Healthy Schools, will offer more than 1,500 online teaching resources, all independently evaluated to ensure that they are suitable for use with primary pupils.

The aim is to improve pupils’ awareness of issues surrounding mental health - and their confidence in dealing with these issues as they arise.

In addition to teaching resources, the site will also offer advice to staff on the risks associated with mental ill-health and on how to introduce a whole-school approach to ensuring pupils’ wellbeing.

Supporting mental health

More than half of all mental-health problems among adults have started by the age of 14. One in 10 children experiences a mental health difficulty by the age of 11.

Sarah Hannafin, senior policy adviser for the NAHT headteachers’ union, said: “School leaders have been clear that they need access to high-quality resources to help schools’ work in supporting children’s mental wellbeing.”

Mentally Health Schools has been developed by mental-health charities the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, Place2Be and YoungMinds.

It is set to be launched today by the Duchess of Cambridge, during a visit to Roe Green Junior School in Brent, North London. Roe Green has been piloting the websites’ resources in its classrooms.

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