Mental health and schools: the views of pupils

Two current pupils from different educational backgrounds discuss their experiences of mental health and wellbeing in school…

Eloise is 16 and has just finished her GCSEs. She attends a private school in North London and intends to study Psychology, French, Politics and Religious studies for A- level.

Momena is a 17-year-old girl, studying biology, sociology and psychology for A-Levels at a state school in Hackney. She is looking to study child nursing at university.

To what extent is mental health awareness talked about in schools?

 

Eloise: As a pupil at a private school, I think that mental health issues are very common due to the pressures placed on the pupils to achieve. Unfortunately, even though the issues exist, mental health awareness is still not talked about and is thought of as rather taboo. A significant number of pupils have experienced, or currently live with, a mental health problem. However, the school tends to hide the prevalence of these issues, as they do not want to look as if they have created a pressurised environment that negatively impacts on students’ mental health.

Mental Health Awareness Week was introduced in the autumn term, yet nothing was explained about what this meant for us: the students. The subject of mental health remained unclear and we weren’t offered any background context for why we were raising awareness. A compulsory mindfulness exercise was also introduced, however, its link to mental health and how it could benefit us, was not explained. I felt the reasoning behind its implementation was not meaningful and was used instead as a “tick the box” exercise.

 

Momena: Mental health awareness is not a topic that pupils or teachers really talk about – it is only mentioned during the exam period. Discussion mainly focuses on whether pupils eat well, get enough sleep and fresh air. The school’s primary concern is whether the pupils can perform well in exams, rather than genuine concern for their mental health and wellbeing in general.

 

What, if any, support has been provided to your peers in school to maintain sound mental health and wellbeing?

Eloise: My school has done very little to provide support to promote sound mental wellbeing. The pressurised atmosphere and the lack of communication within the school tends to exacerbate issues, rather than support them. The teachers seem unequipped to deal with mental health issues and are reticent to take responsibility and offer to help students. Whilst there are support groups for LGBTQ students to get help and discuss their problems, there is no such thing for those with mental health issues – I think this is unfair.

 

Momena: My school has not approached mental health. Having said that, the school does provide after school clubs such as cooking and football, to ensure that we remain active and develop existing skills, as well as learn new ones. Classes such as P.E. are offered to help us relax and take time out from subject learning, which helps us maintain our mental health and wellbeing. Nonetheless, I hope to see the topic of mental health being discussed more openly in the years to come.

In your experience is mental health something that is discussed equally among boys and girls?

Eloise: In my experience, boys and girls do not talk about mental health equally. At my age, the most frequent causes of mental health issues are exam stress and problems with family and friends. Girls seem to be more open about their issues, which leads to a misconception that boys do not face similar concerns. However, boys – especially at my age – put on a facade as they don’t think it’s “normal” to experience mental health issues.

 

Momena: It is difficult for mental health to be discussed by boys and girls, especially if we are not made aware of what mental health is. Boys, in particular, may find it harder to talk about their mental health due to fear of being judged and labelled by their peers. Their conversation tends to centre on outdoor, physical activity, such as football and cricket. In general, boys are seen to be more disruptive in class when they are stressed and less confident in sharing their feelings. Girls, on the other hand, are either more likely to share their feelings with their peers or tend to withdraw and isolate themselves.

 

Do you feel as if schools equip pupils to address issues with mental health? If not, what steps do you think schools should implement to improve in these areas?

Eloise: I don’t feel as if my school equips pupils to balance their mental health and wellbeing and I feel there are insufficient resources available if someone develops a mental health problem. Schools should teach pupils about the causes, as well as the symptoms of mental health conditions, and the best ways to respond. In my view, the best way to teach pupils about mental health is for people that have experienced and managed their mental health problem to deliver talks at schools. I had an experience where one of my close friends was anorexic and I was unsure of what to do, as she didn’t want my help. Several people went to the school nurse to seek guidance but we were all ignored and told that it was being ‘dealt with’. It is vital to educate students about mental health – not only for themselves but in order to help the people around them.

Mindfulness can help people with mental health issues. Education and implementation of mindfulness in schools would help students maintain their mental health and wellbeing.

 

Momena: I don’t think that schools sufficiently equip pupils to address their mental health. Schools should get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week by educating pupils on mental health and issues that may affect young people’s wellbeing. Another step that schools could take is to stamp out bullying, as many schools are rather inactive in this area. This could lead to better mental health and wellbeing for both pupils and teachers.

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