As we come to the end of this half term we would like to thank you for your incredible efforts each day to transform the life chances of your young people.
In this week's blog we have got a range of topics to keep you in the loop for all things wellbeing:
- A Call to Action for Children's Mental Health Week: Addressing the Rise in Child Mental Health Referrals in England
- Discover Your School's Wellbeing Score
- Transform Your Practice with Our Taster Online Teacher Training Course
- Time to RISE up: A Comprehensive Book on Improving Well-Being in Schools
- Come Join us for Conference Season
- Podium workload survey - we need your help!
A Call to Action for Children's Mental Health Week:
Addressing the Rise in Child Mental Health Referrals in England
The latest data on child mental health in England is a major cause for concern. The referral rate for mental health care for children has increased by an alarming 39% in the past year. This trend is a stark reminder that young people need access to more support and resources to help them manage their mental health.
In the last two weeks, the Government has also scrapped plans for long-term mental health strategy. Leading mental health charities, and social enterprises have branded the newly-announced Major Conditions Strategy a betrayal of the government’s promise to develop a visionary new plan for mental health, from cradle to grave, from prevention to treatment.
Like these charities we are concerned grouping mental ill-health with chronic health conditions, will fail to bring about the long-term government thinking needed to tackle the root causes of mental health problems or provide people with the care they need.
The government has been publicly stating for almost a year that it would develop a 10-year plan for the prevention and treatment of mental health problems in England. This is exactly what is needed. Avoiding quick fixes and looking at every part of the wider society’s role in preventing and responding to mental health problems beyond just the health system. We need large-scale changes to protect people’s mental health.
The merging of the mental health plan with a Major Conditions Strategy risks excluding our children and young people, who are less likely to experience chronic ill-health, yet are the most likely to benefit from early action to protect their mental health. Prevention should be at the heart of the new plan - for all the conditions it will cover - but the government’s emphasis is on the other end of life: extending people’s healthy life expectancy.
We need sustained investment in high-quality person-centred support for mental health and social care services, but a percentage of NHS spend should be dedicated to preventative mental health interventions, working with and developing alongside people who are more likely to experience a mental health difficulty.
At Future Action, we believe that our communities' work has never been more important. There are so many dedicated teachers in our community and beyond who are doing incredible work to support young people and promote their mental wellbeing. These dedicated educators play a critical role in providing young people with the care and support they need to succeed.
However, the reality is that schools are facing increasing demands for mental health support, and traditional support systems are struggling to keep up. That's why we believe that schools can be an essential part of the solution.
By implementing trauma informed practice, effective early intervention mental wellbeing programmes, alongside timely access to specialist counsellors and mental health support teams, schools can provide students with many of the resources they need to manage their mental wellbeing.
One of the most powerful tools that schools have at their disposal to support student mental health is physical activity in caring environments that prioritise relationships with their young people. Exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on mental wellbeing, and it can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety.
By promoting physical activity and providing opportunities for students to be active during the school day, schools can create a healthy and supportive environment that promotes mental health and wellbeing.
At Future Action, we are dedicated to supporting teachers to make a positive difference in the lives of your young people. Our work is a story of hope, and we believe that by working together, we can help to address the rise in child mental health referrals in England.
Through our trauma-informed early intervention mental wellbeing programmes, we are committed to empowering students to take control of their mental health and build resilience for the future.
The latest data on child mental health referrals in England serves as a call to action. It's time for us to come together and work towards a brighter future for our young people. By providing them with the support and resources they need, we can help our young people manage their mental wellbeing and reach their full potential.
Discover Your School's Wellbeing Score
Schools play a critical role in the mental wellbeing of students, but how do you know where to focus your efforts? Our School Wellbeing Scorecard provides a quick and easy way to discover areas where your school can improve.
This 3-minute scorecard provides an insightful snapshot of your school's wellbeing and identifies the areas you need to focus on to create a supportive and inclusive environment for your students and staff. Click on the image to take the scorecard.
Transform Your Practice with Our Taster Online Teacher Training Course
Are you looking to enhance your skills as a teacher and make a real impact on the mental wellbeing of your students?
Our Complimentary Online Teacher Training Course is designed for teachers who want to take their school from reactive to proactive when it comes to mental health. You will learn about the link between physical activity and mental wellbeing, and how to identify and support young people who are struggling.
This online course is flexible and convenient, accessible anytime and anywhere. It comes with resources to save you precious hours of planning time, and is a great way to build your knowledge and skills without having to take time out of the classroom.
Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just starting out, this course is an excellent way to transform your practice and make a positive impact on the mental health of your students. Click on the button to receive your login info.
Time to RISE up: A Comprehensive Book on Improving Well-Being in Schools
"Time to Rise Up" sheds light on the decline of children's mental health in the last two decades and provides a roadmap for improvement within schools. With the help of expert contributors, our founder, Neil Moggan explores practical solutions through early intervention well-being programmes, trauma-informed practice, and the connection between physical activity and mental well-being.
By delving into leading practices employed by top educators and professionals, this comprehensive book is a must-read for anyone passionate about improving children's mental health in schools.
We have received so many expert contributions from our community and beyond and are extremely grateful for all who have offered their expertise so far.
If you would like to contribute your own expertise or stay informed on the book's progress, then please get in contact.
Get involved in this important conversation and be the first to know when the book is released.
-Come Join us for Conference Season
Neil will be presenting at conferences in March to share how we can use a trauma informed approach in PE to prevent and improve mental health issues for young people.
We would love for you to join us on March 2nd in Telford. Click here to find out more about the Youth Sports Trust conference.
Come join us for the Liverpool School Sports Partnership "Happy, Healthy & Active Children's Conference" on Wed 22nd March. Click here for more information.
- Podium workload survey - we need your help!
In youth sport, managing workload is part of healthy adaptation. It improves general health and performance and is important for growth and development in young people, where too little or too much load can increase the risk of injury.
One of our trusted partners, Podium Analytics, would like to understand the roles of PE teachers and sports coaches teaching PE and sport with 11-18 year olds and what workload management, (the monitoring, reducing or varying of activities and recovery to reduce injury risk and improve overall experience of sport and physical activity) looks like in schools.
Please help Podium in this work by completing a short survey which will take no more than 10 minutes.
Your contribution is valuable, and the results will help inform the future direction of Podium's work.
Thank you for all your efforts this half term. We hope you get a chance to rest, relax and have some fun adventures over half term.
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