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Read our growing collection of articles on student and teacher wellbeing, written by leading practitioners, speakers, authors and academics. Scroll for articles on kindness, emotional wellbeing, young people’s mental health, teacher wellbeing and more.
Schools throughout the country have noted the profound impact of COVID-19 on children and young people's mental health (CYPMH) and experts agree that an integrated, whole-school approach is essential to tackle the issues. Here's our guide to organisations that can offer support and advice.
16th December 2020
10% of 10-16 year olds have a diagnosed mental health issue. Suicides in young females have increased by 83% in the last six years and by 25% in young males in the last three. 75% of mental health issues in adults begin before the age of 18. (Statistics... read more
With mental health so high on the agenda as a result of COVID-19,
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Digital media is part of every student's life, but how much do they know about the technology behind it? Sue Wheeler is a former teacher, now specialising in safeguarding and digital citizenship training and consultancy @safeinyourhands. Here, she outlines the psychology behind the devices.
13th October 2020
It’s useful to discuss the role of digital media in young people’s lives as part of PSHE, so that they understand how to have a healthy relationship with their devices. The following ideas are designed to support any teacher in exploring healthy and unhealthy... read more
This resource provides some insights into the world of digital
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Adrian Bethune is a writer, teacher and Healthy Body and Mind leader at a primary school in Hertfordshire. In 2012, he was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal at the House of Lords for his work on developing wellbeing in schools. He discusses how strength spotting can benefit both wellbeing and attainment.
20th August 2020
Character traits make us who we truly are
Leading positive psychologists Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman identified 24 universal character strengths that all people exhibit. Our character strengths are the core parts of ourselves that shape... read more
Tracy Godfroy is a child psychotherapist and clinical supervisor who has 20 years’ experience of working with children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma, abuse and neglect. She advise teachers on how to support young people who are experiencing mental health problems as a result of traumatic experiences and offers her classroom communication tips.
18th August 2020
It is likely that the population of any class will have a multitude of individual learning needs, cultural differences, varied emotional landscapes and levels of psychological resilience – all of which you need to consider, while also teaching a lesson.... read more
A range of suggestions to help teachers to manage classroom
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Andy Sammons (@andy_samm) is head of department in a large secondary school and author of 'The Compassionate Teacher'. Here he discusses the importance of looking after your mental health if you are a middle leader.
18th August 2020
I should probably acknowledge something straight up: writing this, I have a sense of imposter syndrome. There are hundreds of middle leaders that are probably more qualified than me to write about mental health, and I have succumbed to the pressures of... read more
Jenny Mosley is an internationally renowned education consultant who has written many books and contributed to government guidance. From her experience in primary schools, she outlines five key ways you can actively promote wellbeing in your school. Jenny's ideas would also be suitable for KS3 students.
10th August 2020
Jenny Mosley at a CPD event in India
Wellbeing has always been at the heart of the work I focus on with schools. Thankfully, wellbeing, mental health, and its links to healthy behaviour are now being actively promoted in schools.
However, how can we promote, model and create wellbeing... read more
Five tips for wellbeing, written by international education
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From board game Olympics to round the world night, here are twenty ideas to banish boredom in lockdown, learn new skills and have family fun when school is not an option and there's a lot of time to fill!
18th March 2020
The great outdoors. Fresh air and exercise will help to banish boredom and housebound blues. If you can, go for a walk, run or bike ride, giving your kids the map to plan the route. With younger children, give them a bag and collect ‘treasures’ on... read more
Phil Bridges is a Youth Mental Health First Aid instructor, journalist and founder of www.themindmap.co.uk, an organisation which seeks to raise awareness of youth mental health. Here he discusses how you can recognise and help to address mental health issues in your students.
4th February 2020
Facts about mental health and young people
There are some alarming statistics recently regarding young people and mental health. 1 in 10 primary school children say they suffer from a low sense of wellbeing.10% of children and young people (aged 5–16... read more
Tracy Godfroy is a child psychotherapist and clinical supervisor with 20 years’ experience of working with children and adolescents who have suffered complex trauma, abuse and neglect, as well as with their families, siblings, support workers and teachers. Here, Tracy suggests how to support students in developing emotional resilience.
28th November 2019
A recent study by NHS digital (Nov 2018) showed that one in eight 5 to 19-year-olds had at least one mental disorder when assessed (broadly grouped into emotional, behavioural, hyperactive and other disorders), and that there had been a 5.8% increase... read more
Tracy Godfroy, child psychotherapist and clinical supervisor,
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Head of department and author Andy Sammons (@andy_samm) shares his first-hand experiences of the effects of stress and anxiety on teachers' mental health, and argues powerfully for the importance of self-care and putting yourself first.
27th November 2019
Paying attention to your mental health
By the time I worked it out, it was too late. It took about six months, but by the time depression descended on me, there was no going back. Even now, feeling better about life, I look back on that time in horror... read more
Andy Sammons, Head of Department and author of 'The Compassionate
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Adrian Bethune is a writer, teacher and Healthy Body and Mind leader at a primary school in Hertfordshire. In 2012, he was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal at the House of Lords for his work on developing wellbeing in schools. Here he explores the benefits of showing kindness, and how the smallest acts can make a big impact.
11th October 2019
What research says about kindness
When we are kind to others, we often feel happier. This is because prosocial behaviour triggers the release of dopamine in our brains. Dopamine is a hormone that makes us feel good, lowers our stress levels and generally... read more
Sue Wheeler is a former teacher, now specialising in safeguarding and digital citizenship training and consultancy @safeinyourhands. Here she shares her observations about the effects of social media on young people’s mental health.
11th October 2019
The good and bad of social media
Social media brings some wonderful benefits. It has changed the way we communicate with each other. We can share what matters to us with our friends immediately. It has the power to motivate people. It allows young... read more
Adrian Bethune is a writer, teacher and Healthy Body and Mind leader at a primary school in Hertfordshire. In 2012, he was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal at the House of Lords for his work on developing wellbeing in schools. Here he explains the value of mindfulness and how we can teach it.
9th October 2019
Mindfulness: the research
A recent meta-analysis of randomised control trials looked at the impact mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) had on young people. When compared to the control groups, young people that had practised mindfulness showed ... read more
Val Payne has over 30 years’ experience in education and social care and Peter Harper is a former NHS consultant clinical psychologist. They are the authors of '50 Ways to Feel Happy' and volunteer for Action for Happiness. They explain why it is important to teach emotional wellbeing skills, and share a range of strategies.
9th October 2019
The importance of teaching emotional wellbeing skills in schools
Conversations about children, young people and schools often focus with concern on the growing prevalence of mental health issues. Diagnosable conditions such as anxiety and depression... read more
Writers Val Payne and Peter Harper give teaching suggestions
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Dr Sarah Bell is a qualified teacher and Senior Research Associate in young people’s public health at Bristol University Medical School. She is currently working on the WISE project. Here Sarah discusses the importance of mental health and wellbeing research in schools.
9th October 2019
The importance of mental health and wellbeing research in schools
The latest national survey of trends in young people’s mental health, released in November 2018, reported that 12.8% of 5 to 19-year-olds had at least one mental disorder. Rates of mental... read more
Andy Sammons (@andy_samm) is Head of Department in a large secondary school in the north of England, and author of 'The Compassionate Teacher'. Here he discusses the mental health of young people.
9th October 2019
Young people have no way of understanding mental health, and it’s our fault
My little boy was howling at 4am. ‘I’ve got to be up for work in a couple of hours!’ I screamed in my head. The following morning, my wife said something which has stuck with... read more
Adrian Bethune is a writer, teacher and Healthy Body and Mind leader at a primary school in Hertfordshire. In 2012, he was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal at the House of Lords for his work on developing wellbeing in schools. Here he explains the rationale for practising gratitude and runs through a gratitude exercise.
9th October 2019
Research by the leading scientific expert on gratitude, Professor Robert Emmons, shows that gratitude is a skill that we can develop with effort and practice.
People who practise gratitude regularly:
experience more positive emotions and report... read more
Victoria Hewett is an education blogger @Mrs_Humanities and creator of the #Teacher5adayBuddyBox wellbeing scheme. She is a passionate advocate for improving teacher wellbeing and reducing workload. Here she shares her ideas for strategies you can use to support your own wellbeing.
6th August 2019
Naturally, teachers are a caring species with many of us putting our students’ wellbeing before our own. Yet our wellbeing is as important as theirs. Happy teachers are the foundation of a school. Look after them and they are capable of looking after... read more
A fantastic list of practical ideas and tips to improve teacher
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