Mental health programmes in schools

Shawmind - training teachers, children and parents to recognise mental health issues

Peter Wingrove from Shawmind talked to Darling about the programme in schools

This festive season you might be considering what you can give to those you love that can have a positive impact on their lives. It is the season of giving, so this festive season please consider making a gift that can last a lifetime. Mental health is getting much focus right now as we cope with the effects of the pandemic, the impact on our children has been unprecedented. Good mental health of our children is crucial to them functioning as happy, productive and successful adults.

Through our Headucation programme we want to make sure that no child gets left behind because of their mental health. The programme follows a whole-school approach to mental health and aims at training teachers, children and parents. It has been developed by several mental health professionals and specialists and is delivered through Shawmind and a consortium of partners committed to reaching every child in every school in the UK.

According to recent studies:

• 5 children in every classroom of 5–16-year-olds have been identified as having a probable mental health problem • 80% of children with mental health needs have acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic has made their mental health worse

• Nearly half of 17–19-year-olds with a diagnosable mental health disorder have self-harmed or attempted suicide at some point • Suicide was the leading cause of death for males and females aged between 5-34 in 2019

In 2017, Shawmind forced a Parliamentary debate on compulsory children’s mental health education in schools – something which came into effect in September 2020.

But this is not enough: we need to tackle the issue from a community perspective, and this is where you really can help. Please consider connecting us with your children’s school so that we can bring our Headucation programme to them, fully-funded, and making Headucation your company’s chosen Charity programme for 2022.

And by making even a £100 donation to Shawmind this festive season, you can positively impact the mental wellbeing of hundreds of children and young people throughout the UK in the future. n

Join this mental health revolution and support Headucation: shawmind.org/donate

Fundraising Regulator, Headucation, Shawmind