Mental health in schools
MENTAL health is a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a meaningful contribution to their community.
Mental health is a critical component of individual, family, community and national wellbeing and prosperity.
During the school term, many children and young people spend a signi cant proportion of their time at school.
Schools can a suitable settings to promote mental health wellbeing of young people but may also be environments that can result in mental health challenges.
How can the school environment negatively a ect mental wellbeing of children and young people?
1. Lack of psychological safety at school: School environments where there is intimidation, bullying, lack of psychological support or poor responses to emotional distress can result in poor mental health and wellbeing. Bullying can create psychologically unsafe environments in schools. The learner being bullied can be stressed and may struggle with low self-esteem and con dence anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges. The learner who is a bully may also be struggling with mental health challenges such as Conduct Disorder or may be using intimidation and manipulation as maladaptive approaches to relationships with others.
2. Lack of awareness about mental wellbeing and mental health challenges in young people: Limited awareness about mental health and wellbeing and lack of a structured response to emotional distress may create environments that are not psychologically supportive. Young people who feel connected to their school, supported, respected and included at school will be better o mentally.
3. Excessive pressure to perform academically or in sport activities: Encouraging young people to be the best that they can be is a good thing but putting excessive pressure on young people to achieve high grades and perform in sports can affect their mental wellbeing. Internal motivation is almost always better than external motivation and identifying why a young person may be struggling with self-motivation maybe a healthier approach than excessive external pressure or using threats and punishments when they underperform.
4. Limited resources at schools: can negatively a ect a young person’s ability to reach their full potential, to thrive at school and can a ect their mental wellbeing. Poverty and lack of resources can result in low self-esteem and low selfworth, a ecting a young person’s ability to hope and dream for a better future for themselves.
Mental health of teachers
The mental health of teachers is critical in promoting mental wellbeing in schools. Teachers are both instructors and caregivers for their students and their wellbeing directly impacts the wellbeing of the young people under their care. Issues that can a ect a teacher’s mental wellbeing include:
1. Stress and burnout
2. Excessive workload
3. Dealing with young people with behavioural problems
4. Pressure for students to produce good results
5. Dealing with di cult parents
6. Administrative work in addition to teaching
7. Managing continuing education and changing curricula
8. Work life balance
9. Low remuneration and facing nancial challenges
10. Poorly resourced schools
What mental health challenges can a ect the school learning environment?
One in ve children has a mental health challenge and half of all mental health problems usually start in childhood or adolescence. Mental health challenges can a ect the young person and a ect the learning environment:
1. Anxiety: children can experience separation anxiety, social anxiety and panic attacks and this can a ect their ability to learn and interact with teachers and other learners
2. Depression: sadness and irritability, fatigue and demotivation which can make it di cult to be attentive in school and to be motivated to pursue and accomplish goals at school. Symptoms of depression in children and adolescents may be misunderstood as a poor attitude or laziness.
3. Hyperactivity and inattention: challenges with concentration and maintaining attention for extended periods of time can a ect ability to learn and this can result in poor performance in school which can frustrate both the learner and to the teacher
4. Behaviour/conduct problems: disruptive behaviour problems such as conduct disorder or oppositional de ance are disruptive to the school environment but also a ects the a ected learner’s ability to learn and can frustrate teachers
5. Substance use problems: substance use in children and adolescents can be due to experimentation but can become a maladaptive coping mechanism for stress and other challenges. Substance use in children and adolescents a ects ability to learn and interact with other learners and with teachers and a ects the school environment.
How can we improve mental health in schools?
1. Encourage honest, authentic conversations about health and wellbeing and issues a ecting mental health of learners.
2. Creating psychologically safe environments with a culture of respect and care. This includes discouraging and dealing with bullying swiftly as well as involving learners in discussions about school mental health approaches. This also involves a structured, well de ned response to emotional distress in learners and provide appropriate support.
3. Provide training for teachers and school sta to be able to promote mental wellness for both learners and sta . Sta can also be trained to promote mental health self-care skills; to recognise early signs of mental distress and provide mental health rst aid when needed and to know when and where to refer someone for further care.
4. Including mental health and wellness topics in the curriculum to improve learner’s emotional awareness, coping skills and knowing when to seek help.
5. Take care of teachers and promote teacher wellness. Teachers also need a conducive, psychologically safe work environment that promotes good work life balance and healthy work place relationships. Teachers also need to learn to recognise their own distressing emotions and know when to seek help when needed.
If you think that you or someone that you know may be experiencing a mental health problem linked to the school environment you learn or teach in, please contact your nearest health care provider and get help.
*Dr Chido Rwafa Madzvamutse is a consultatnt psychiatrist. Feedback: WhatsApp+263777727332