Nurturing Minds:  Protecting Mental Health for School Children

Hi,

I’m Alix and it’s my mission to help as many of the next generation as possible to work in jobs that meet their passion and purpose, making them happy and fulfilled adults.

A child’s educational journey prepares them to be grown-ups. It’s not just their education, it’s an all-round development process and the challenges they could face play a huge part in instilling characteristics that will follow through to adulthood.

With the mental well-being of our children being of paramount importance, let’s investigate what schools, and you, can do to safeguard them. Explore the importance of protecting them in the classroom, whilst also highlighting the challenges faced by schools and teachers in doing so.

Note: When I went to a grammar secondary school and found I was out of my depth compared to those around me who were so much more intelligent than I was, I struggled desperately. Some of my colleagues recognised my struggles and used it against me and, with no support from home or school, the effects are still here today.

I‘m not a therapist but suffering from the effects of challenges faced at school even now, I want better for your child(ren) and, by giving hints and tips in this article, taken simply from my own experiences, I want to provide the support they could need as they grow.

Join me in making sure your child(ren) become well-rounded, happy and confident adults.

So, first of all, as I will always say, grab a coffee and biscuits (or cake – I love cake!) and let’s go…

The importance of mental health in schools…

In recent years, there’s been a growing recognition of the significance of mental health in the context of education. A recognition that schools play a crucial role in nurturing young minds and must, therefore, put in place initiatives to protect them so that they develop into well-balanced adults.

This starts with having the right teachers in the nursery and reception years.

What they learn here sets the path for the long journey of the school years, teaching them how to mix with others, along with how to behave in a classroom setting, as well as the actual learning part.

Discipline also plays a huge role now as well, with boundaries set to guide children in the rights and wrongs we all need to know. This, of course, should naturally be supported by you at home. Remember, boundaries are good.

When pupils are emotionally and mentally well, they can concentrate better, demonstrate improved academic performance, and form positive relationships with teachers and classmates, giving them a supportive learning environment.

And a focus by schools on mental health as children grow older, fosters an inclusive learning environment, where every student feels valued and understood.

There are some recognised conditions, like Autism and Savants, that can easily be interpreted as a child being naughty. Teachers need to know how to spot these types of mental health.

Note: I use Savants as an example because my nephew has been diagnosed with it. I knew his elder sister had autism, but this was different. He’d stand in front of me, I’d tell him what to do and he’d completely ignore me and either carry on with what he was doing or run off and do something completely against what I’d asked him. It took a good long while to realise he wasn’t ignoring me, but that his brain just wasn’t interpreting what I was saying.

Struggling with mental health can detrimentally affect a child's ability to:

learn in a classroom;

interact with their peers; and

cope with life's challenges.

And this can set the scene for their future - not what we, as parents, want.

And so, teachers need to be able to distinguish between a mental health issue and naughtiness early and I believe this is a huge argument for smaller class ratios between teachers and the children they’re responsible for. Knowing your pupils is paramount in nursery and reception.

At this young age children are likely to be themselves, not influenced by anything they see on television about the effects of mental health and, perhaps, using it to their advantage, or believing feeling low one day means they’ll feel like that forever. When I write this, I don’t want anyone to believe I’m making light of it. Fighting inner demons is devastating (believe me, I have my own) and I urge anyone suffering to seek help.

But here we’re talking about young’uns! And generally children see and say things like they are – warts and all!

Common challenges faced by students…

Going back to the inclusive learning environment, where every student feels valued and understood, however, numerous factors can impact this perfect world ideal, with some of the most common challenges being:

Academic pressure…

High academic expectations, competition and fear of failure can lead to stress and anxiety.

Note: when I was in grammar schooI, the fear of being called on to answer a question, or read from a textbook, in front of the class is still with me today.

And fear of failure can be perceived by a child to be coming at them from all angles:

other students;

teachers;

the school itself; and

in some, though I hope rare, cases, parents.

Teachers are constantly put under pressure for high results and may, even unconsciously, pass this on to their students. I can see that concentrating on those students who could raise their results is tempting, but it leaves those who are struggling feeling even more excluded.

And, with important assessments and exams being taken as young as 6-7 years old, the pressure is there almost from the beginning.

Social pressures…

Issues such as bullying, peer pressure and feelings of social isolation can obviously significantly impact a child's mental well-being as well.

Note: when I moved to that secondary school, I didn’t know anyone in my class. The school was a religious one, miles from home, and it seemed everyone was already in cliques from day one.

I felt so alone and an easy target for mental bullying by others who clearly knew I was less clever and less confident. To say I struggled and felt more and more inferior doesn’t begin to cover it, with the knock-on effect of making me a non-confident adult, harbouring an inbuilt fear of those more intelligent. Desperate to remain in the background and keeping my head well below the parapet.

If I’d gone to a school more suited to my academic abilities, I could have been a very different adult. But then I guess I wouldn’t be here writing this!

A child’s school years instils characteristics that will stay with them for ever. They should be watched, supported, and protected.

I believe that the majority of parents believe a school is watching over their children and has their best interests at heart but, while a child spends so much time at school, it’s also critical that this nurturing is there for them at home too. They need to be watched, supported and protected there too.

Transition and change…

Having to move to a new school, adjusting to different academic levels (moving from nursery to reception), and integrating with a new class of students, or dealing with family changes, can also be emotionally taxing for students unless handled carefully.

Note: at a very young age, my daughter was moved into a special maths class set up to harness those with a higher grasp of the subject to raise the school’s grades, but she struggled horrendously, leaving her to leave me notes saying she was ‘stupid’.

I didn’t know anything about her being moved up and when I found out and met with her teachers, the one who put her in the class said she had been borderline but had put up anyway and the one who was then teaching her said she ‘didn’t know what to do’, deciding that physically removing her and another child from the class during certain lessons was the her best response!

The end result? The doctor explained to me that one more thing would push my eight year old daughter over the edge into a breakdown.

How’s that for watched, supported and protected?

So, as a parent, know and watch your child. Any change in behaviour should be investigated immediately, before the harm is done.

Digital overload…

Excessive screen time and social media use, with no parental controls, can also lead to feelings of inadequacy and/or cyber-bullying with the obvious negative impact on self-esteem.

Also, children don’t have the maturity to know that no one is ‘perfect’, especially when constant advertisements pop up on their phones telling them they can be if they only do this or buy that.

Companies spend millions putting together adverts that ‘persuade’ the watcher that they will only be more successful or popular or beautiful or loved if they buy their product.

Allowing your child to have unfettered or unmonitored access to this constant pressure is irresponsible.

Discussing adverts when they come up is a simple, natural way to get through to them that the actors on television are only interested in selling their product and may not even use it.

Gently pointing out how advertising use actors chosen from hundreds of applicants to find the right body, looks and even unblemished skin (let alone the make up that’s added) can bring a down-to-earth reality.

Remember all the ‘perfectly’ shaped women sitting on couches delicately plucking out a chocolate from a box and elegantly taking a bite? Realistically, there are few who can indulge in chocolates and remain stick thin. Its important children learn this from you.

Note: In the film ‘Ruthless People’ a personal favourite, one of the lead actors is kidnapped and chained in a cellar. She’s allowed to watch television while the kidnappers send out a ransom demand for her.

Anyway, she watches an advert showing a dress that (naturally) looks fantastic on the model and imagines herself as the model, then slowly does a reality check and the image changes into her wearing the dress with her figure (which is not stick thin) and the dress looks, shall we say, slightly less appealing.

A simple but effective message.

So, by naturally bringing up the subject when you watch tv together and making it a fun subject to analyse and discuss, the reality will keep it down to earth for them. Follow up by linking the subject to adverts they might see on their phones and tablets when you might not be there, will help them re-evaluate naturally.

Indeed, advertisements on the television are heavily promoting the dangers of mental health, which, while bringing it to our attention, is also highlighting it to your child as well. This is both good and bad as some more confident children can harness it to their advantage, but more of that later.

There’s also always a danger of them being approached on screen by someone who pretends to be your child’s age who your child can naively believe is a school friend but isn’t and it’s easy and frightening to see where that could lead.

Family and personal issues…

Problems at home, family conflicts, or personal challenges will also affect a child's mental health and, therefore, their academic performance.

Note: I didn’t have family problems, but my parents never, ever sat and discussed any potential issues with me. They had no idea how scared I was or how much the bullying was affecting me.

Non caring? Too busy? Doesn’t really matter, it was what it was but understanding my struggling at secondary school and giving me ways to cope could have made a difference.

So, make time to talk to your child(ren). Perhaps make dinner time the opportunity to discuss what happened to everyone. You could throw in a comment about how you, yourself, struggled with something which could open the door for them to speak up about any struggles they’re facing.

Know your child. Spot character changes early.

And the message to give someone struggling could be ‘what are you going to do about it?’

The idea is to give your child back control of any situation.

Giving them the time to think it through before suggesting options yourself will equip them with the feeling that they can work it out - a very valuable life lesson for future challenges.

It can seem harsh, as in you’ve got a problem so solve it, but, actually, you can change it just slightly to say, ‘what are you going to do about it and how can I help?’

And by offering help they’ll know your support is there. They’re not alone. But give them the chance to think it through first as it puts them back in control rather than seeing themselves as a victim.

I did this with my daughter when she was struggling with bullying and wanted to learn from home. I work and it wasn’t possible for me to stop so this was a no-no.

She went off and did some investigating (a young Career Path P.I.?) and came back to me with an online learning school, where she would sign on in the morning and do her lessons from home. The school was one that taught children whose parents were in the services, where they had to travel a lot and it kept a steady education for the children. It had measures to let parents know if their child did not sign on and, on further investigation, our local council knew all about the school.

End result? I knew my daughter was responsible enough to sign on and my mother lived next door, so she wasn’t on her own and everything worked out for the best. But, she had found the answer – herself! And she’s used that lesson ever since.

Effective strategies to protect mental health in schools…

Schools can implement various strategies to foster a mentally healthy environment:

Train teachers and staff…

Providing training for teachers and school staff to recognise signs of mental distress in students by equipping them with the right knowledge and tools, can lead to early intervention and support. This can come down to a teacher making the effort to know their students and is, in my eyes, a huge argument for smaller class sizes.

It’s also a measure of a good teacher when they make themselves approachable. A teacher should be firm and fair, promoting respect, but a pupil must believe they can go to them when they’re struggling and not be made to feel inferior, a nuisance or stupid.

Mental health education…

Introducing mental health education as part of the curriculum raises awareness and helps reduce any stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Setting a lesson that teaches older students coping strategies, emotional regulation and stress management techniques can make them better equipped and aware, not only in connection with mental health but when facing the stress of exams and, have the knock-on effect of encouraging them to notice when friends need help.

However, it can also encourage a child to believe they have mental health issues where this might not be the case and, this then, could obviously be detrimental.

No one said this subject was easy.

Offering workshops or sessions on mindfulness, meditation and relaxation techniques can give students skills to help them manage stress and anxiety effectively. And treating these subjects as natural rather than in any way out of the ordinary can help.

Again, not only helping with mental health but a way to cope with exam stress and/or family issues.

Create safe spaces…

Establishing safe and confidential spaces where students can talk to counsellors or mental health professionals about their concerns without fear of judgment can alleviate pressure.

Note: in my daughter’s school, there were several counsellors who frequently gave students the option to sit in an empty room when they felt overwhelmed, with no questions asked. Unfortunately, this was perceived by their peers to be a way to get out of lessons on a regular basis, especially when students admitted using it for such. As I said earlier, there are children astute enough to take advantage.

So, this option needs to be carefully monitored to ensure that it is not open to abuse, causing resentment amongst colleagues, and leading them to believe the idea of mental health is just a ruse.

Promote positive relationships…

Fostering a culture of respect, empathy and inclusivity within the school encourages positive interactions between students and teachers to create a supportive environment.

Incorporating physical education and extracurricular activities into the school routine will help because exercise is a natural stress reliever, improving mood and overall well-being. It can also promote teamwork and friendship.

Limit academic pressure…

Re-evaluating academic demands to strike a balance between challenging students, rather than overwhelming them, along with encouraging a growth mindset that emphasises learning from mistakes, rather than fearing them, will, again, alleviate stress. Everyone makes mistakes, it’s just that some don’t admit it.

Address bullying…

Implementing a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and harassment will encourage open communication.

Creating reporting mechanisms for students to seek help if they experience or witness bullying will also benefit the school as a whole. But the school must then deal with the problems to promote a visible safe environment.

Note: my daughter was being bullied in school and when I approached her teacher and asked that she be moved to an alternative year group I was told that the other year group had worse issues with bullying!

Also, when a girl in my daughter’s class was assaulted by a fellow pupil and reported it, having been advised to by a friend who was a teacher, because the pupil had ADHD, he was supported by the school and the girl was left alone to cope with the bullying that came from the pupil’s friends.

ADHD pupils should be supported fully but so should non-ADHD pupils so they can all become stars.

Involve parents…

Collaborating with parents to support their children's mental health by conducting workshops or seminars educating parents about the importance of mental well-being and how they can assist their children is another tool that can be useful.

Any hint of an issue should be raised by the school straight away with a parent as, in this day and age, with both parents possibly working, they might not always pick up on troubles happening at school because the pupil is either ashamed, hiding it, or not wanting to worry them.

We want our children to grow into confident, well-balanced adults and teacher/parent communication can be vital. We do this together with them as they traverse their educational path.

Conclusion…

Protecting the mental health of our school children is an integral part of fostering a supportive and conducive learning environment.

By recognising the importance of mental health, but not over-playing it, identifying common challenges and implementing effective strategies, schools can contribute significantly to the overall well-being and success of their students making their journey so much better and beneficial.

Prioritising mental health not only enhances academic performance but also equips students with the tools they need to navigate life's challenges, both current and future, with resilience and emotional intelligence.

In doing so, we can build a future generation of mentally healthy and thriving individuals ready to contribute positively to society.

I hope this article is helpful and would love to hear from you, feel free to email me below and I send you and your child(ren) my best wishes,