Podcast | The SecEd Podcast: Mental Health in Schools

This episode offers practical advice and ideas for how schools can support and protect the mental health of their students, including creating mentally healthy school cultures and how to handle interactions with young people who are struggling.

With the latest NHS data showing that almost one in five students aged 7 to 16 have a probable mental disorder, schools are on the front-line.

SecEd's experts discuss the most pressing wellbeing issues they are seeing and offer advice for how schools can respond.

SecEd discusses creating a mentally healthy school culture, whole-school strategies, the role of the mental health lead, tips for things we can do to make a difference, building resilience after Covid, and staff training & CPD.

SecEd advises teachers on how to handle interactions with students who are struggling, what to say & do in moments of crisis, what to do if you have concerns, and other tips for conversations with vulnerable young people.

And SecEd discussed specific challenges including anxiety, low mood/ depression, loneliness, supporting SEND and ADHD/neurodiverse pupils, as well as the signs of change in pupils that may signal mental health issues.

The host for this episode was Pete Henshaw, the editor of SecEd and the guests are:

1. Bukky Yusuf is a senior leader from a special school in north London. Bukky is a science teacher and an educational coach.
2. Pete Taylor is headteacher of Audenshaw School in Manchester.
3. Jen Catling is a therapist who works with children and young people. She works with Anxiety UK.
4. Dr Pooky Knightsmith is a passionate ambassador for mental health, wellbeing and PSHE. Her work is backed up both by a PhD in child and adolescent mental health and her own lived experience of PTSD, anorexia, self-harm, anxiety, and depression.