Let’s start with the statistics. One in 10 young people experience a mental health issue at any one time. For those aged five to 19 suicide is the second most common cause of death, and a record number of children experiencing suicidal thoughts contacted Childline in 2016/17 (Public Health England, 2017).
Record levels of young people are struggling. Academic pressure, social media, bullying, poverty and lacking professional mental health support are all thought to contribute to this epidemic of poor mental health. It is clear that young people are not getting the support they need.
However, the key figures in a young person’s life, such as teachers, tutors and school staff, are often best-placed to first spot when a young person is struggling – the school community is therefore in an empowered position to make a difference.
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