With the pandemic having exacerbated existing mental health challenges for many already-vulnerable students and having led others to experience problems for the first time, schools are picking up the pieces at a time when funding is tight and the thresholds for applying to CAMHS are high.
NHS mental health research shows that one in six children aged six to 16 now have a probable mental health condition. Notably, 38% of 11 to 16-year-olds are affected by problems with sleep.
And levels of anxiety are on the rise. Research by Place2Be and the National Association of Head Teachers earlier this year found that 95% of school staff reported an increase in anxiety among pupils, while earlier this month research from the Anna Freud Centre revealed that 82% of secondary teachers say they have seen increasing levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms among students.
In response, on Tuesday, November 8, SecEd is running a free to view hour-long webinar offering practical advice and tips for how schools can support students struggling with anxiety.
Taking place at 4pm, the discussion will feature a panel of expert educators and wellbeing specialists who will offer practical advice for how schools might deliver both preventative, whole-school support for students, as well as how we might respond to individual students, including both internal support and external intervention.
The webinar is being produced in partnership with Academy 21, a provider of online alternative provision which supports more than 1,000 pupils each year, including students with complex behavioural, medical, and mental health needs.
The webinar will be chaired by SecEd editor Pete Henshaw and the expert panel includes:
- Dr Gohar Khan, Associate Senior Leader, Ridgeway Education Trust, Oxfordshire.
- Dr Pooky Knightsmith, Mental Health & Wellbeing Expert, Creative Education.
- Clare Brokenshire, Head of Academy 21.
- Tom Webb, Assistant Headteacher, Greenwood School, Southampton.
- Sarah Miller, Vice-Principal, Goldwyn School, Kent.
As well as responding to the questions asked by our audience, the webinar will tackle the following themes:
- What is the picture on the ground in schools regarding emotional wellbeing and anxiety-related conditions in particular?
- To what extent have existing mental health problems been exacerbated, especially anxiety? How has this manifested in school?
- To what extent are we seeing mental health issues, especially anxiety, in students who have no apparent history of problems?
- What challenges does the increase in emotional needs and anxiety present to schools?
- What are the links between behaviour and anxiety? What do we need to be aware of?
- What are the risks and consequences for educational attainment? How can we respond? How can we ensure students do not fall behind academically? Ideas for supporting the academic progress for students struggling with anxiety, including out of school interventions.
- Responding to emotionally based school avoidance.
- The implications of anxiety for teachers – in the classroom and in terms of training and support. What do teachers need to think about?
- What can we do to help students overcome their anxiety? Given CAMHS referral is often unrealistic, what can schools do with limited funding? Ideas for whole-school interventions as well as individual support.
- What techniques can school staff use to calm students who are in crisis?
For details and to register, visit https://bit.ly/seced-anxietywebinar