Launched by the Anna Freud Centre, a mental health charity, the resource has been created by teachers, school leaders and mental health experts and offers a free-to-access interactive framework. The five steps are:
Research suggests that whole school or college approaches can improve attendance and attainment, including research from the Anna Freud Centre which found that as levels of mental health difficulties increase, attainment results decrease (Lereya & Deighton, 2019).
Furthermore, half of all lifetime cases of mental disorders (excluding dementia) begin by the age 14, and three quarters beginning by the age of 24 (Kessler et al, 2005).
Jaime Smith, director of the Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools Programme at the Anna Freud Centre, said: “Children and young people’s mental health is everyone’s responsibility. Five Steps engages the whole school community including school staff, parents and carers, and pupils. By working together, we can make sure that children and young people get the help they need when they need it.
Register now, read forever
Thank you for visiting Headteacher Update and reading some of our content for professionals in primary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.
What's included:
-
Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcasts
-
New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday
Already have an account? Sign in here