Charlotte Webster-
Mental health needs to be added to the school curriculum urgently to prevent an epidemic of wasted lives. Young people all over the Uk are suffering from a high level of mental health problems, and many don’t even know this. NHS figures published in June revealed that almost 400,000 children and young people aged 18 were in contact with the health service for mental health problems.
Depression and anxiety in particular have increased sharply. The effects on society are wide ranging and expresses itself through a bunch of angry , disturbed and distressed youths. Depression is also a serious problem plaguing many young people. Low self esteem sparked from name calling and sometimes even teasing can go a long way to causing mental health issues in young pupils. The trap becomes deeper when they become adults, but good teaching from an early age can help many people address mental health at its early stages.
Revelation in November 2017 that two-thirds of children referred for specialist mental healthcare were not receiving treatment compounds the problem. NHS England boss, Simon Stevens, said last month that a major expansion of services was needed to deal with growing demand. The problem is quite serious, but a careful and systematic approach to mental health should begin from teaching in primary schools, all the way to secondary schools. All the potential causes of mental health should be taught, with practical solutions offered. It is important that children first understand all the signs of mental health, and develop methods to overcome them.
Self harming is one of the serious signs of mental health, but so is often the quick snap to be angry and attack someone or scream at them.
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Once pupils understand the various causes and expressions of mental health, they may realise that they can play a big role in preventing it from getting worse. Gps cannot always be relied on to deal with mental health, especially of they have never experienced it themselves. The government and schools have an important role to play, and this might require a long term preparation to address the problem of mental health very well.
And, as in Britain, for youngsters from marginalised groups the picture is especially challenging. Amit Paley, chief executive of the Trevor Project, which offers suicide prevention and crisis intervention support for young LGBTQ people in the US, points out that the rate of gay, lesbian and bisexual young people who have seriously contemplated suicide is around three times that of heterosexual young people. The evidence tells us that early identification and intervention can mitigate damage to young people’s mental wellbeing. We know, for example, that if children’s centres and young people’s services and schools are better equipped to promote wellbeing they can make a difference.
When it comes to young people in extreme distress or at risk of suicide, effective crisis services and access to support are utterly essential. But so too is preventing youngsters from reaching a crisis in the first place.
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