Mental health and education are in today’s headlines
Two stories in today's national news highlight the growing challenges facing children, schools and families.
One story reports that more than one million children were referred for mental health support last year, whilst the other reflects that some children are being consistently failed by the education system, with the inquiry calling for improved mental health support for young people.
The underlying reasons are often complex, and the responsibility for supporting young people's well-being and improving educational outcomes cannot rest with schools alone.
Demand for children's mental health support is rising faster than systems can respond, with more children waiting months, and in some cases years, for the help they need. At the same time, there is growing recognition that improving children's outcomes requires joined-up support across education, health and families.
Mental health and education are deeply connected. Anxiety can become absence. Absence can become isolation. Without early support, that journey can lead to long-term disadvantage.
Intervention matters: One-Eighty exists to support young people at the earliest point possible and in partnership with other professionals. Since 2011, One-Eighty has been responding to this growing need, bringing together young people, families and schools, and providing psychology-led behavioural and mental health support to children and young people who have fallen through the gap between education and mental health services. Through early intervention, One-Eighty helps children stay engaged with education before difficulties escalate into crisis.
The evidence is increasingly clear: if better educational outcomes are to be achieved, there must be greater recognition of the growing need to invest proactively in children's mental well-being. Greater support is also needed for schools and the professionals working every day to help children and young people build positive futures. One-Eighty's School Partnership Programme does just this; working for whole-school outcomes.
Every young person deserves timely mental health support and the opportunity to thrive in education.
Articles mentioned:
Anxiety drives child mental health referrals past one million - BBC News
England facing children’s mental health ‘crisis’ as referrals hit 1m | Mental health | The Guardian
White working-class children 'failed by schools system' - BBC News