1 in 10 young people will experience a mental health issues* (Heads Together) and we know from Mind’s research into the mental health of the population during the first lockdown, 68% of young people said their mental health had worsened during that period. More than 80,000 children are suffering with depression…. The statistics go on, but I invite you to look up and around for yourself to notice how this generation of young people is currently feeling and behaving.
Far from being the snowflake generation, the group of young people in the mainstream and further education systems are encountering unprecedented uncertainty as a result of the pandemic. Exams were cancelled last year and there was significant upheaval over A-Level results. Exams have been moved back this year, and the DfE have offered additional measures to enable pupils to pass their exams. Nevertheless, there will be gaps in learning which will be hard to fill. Schools are doing their best to adhere to strict Covid-19 guidelines, but bubbles bursting through positive results mean that this term’s educational experience has been very dis-jointed for some.
Alongside this goes the depreciation of full and active social lives outside of school. Current ‘tier 2 and tier 3’ restrictions mean that even the commonplace ‘playdate’ can only take place outside and not in the home. Sport and other enrichment activities are ‘back on’ again, but the year has been so hit and miss with training, many will have seen a decline in their children’s physical fitness, and perhaps passion and momentum for the extra curricular activities they once loved. How many children have given up on that musical instrument they were just starting to master, or decided to throw in the towel for a football team they were a part of?
Underneath all of this is the impact the decline in adult mental health is also having on our Young People. Lockdown #1 saw a surge in domestic abuse, separation and divorce rates have been escalating, and it is of grave concern that all the measures put in place by The Chancellor, simply won’t be enough to prevent very many jobs disappearing from the employment market, leading to redundancies, financial hardship, and in some cases, poverty. These factors all have an influence on a child’s sense of security and general wellbeing.
We know how important providing a supportive adult community, which is mindful of and skilled in Youth Mental Health, is. That is why we are working with Youth Mental Health Instructor, Matt Loftus, to offer mental health first aid courses geared towards to those working with young people. Not limited to teachers, this course includes anyone ranging from sports coaches, to creative arts teachers, to scout and guide leaders, and after school club providers, to name but a few.
Teachers are highly skilled at spotting the signs of poor mental health and putting together the pieces of a puzzle relating to a child’s life outside of school. My personal theory however is a young person is more likely to ‘leak’ their mental health issues or domestic difficulties when they are at leisure, or in an environment less structured than school. If you work with young people, how would you respond if you noticed a child had scars on their arms and were self harming? What would you do if a child in your care was showing signs of an eating disorder? How would you behave if a child told you they wanted to take their own life by suicide? Would you have the words, the skill to support them in-the-moment?
Our courses are there to help put you in a position of capability. By investing in a place on the Youth Mental Health First Aid Course, approved by Mental Health First Aid England, you will explore these uncomfortable topics, and find strategies to enable you to be the first line of support for the young people in your care. We will take you through four online modules, approximately two hours in length, with a commitment to seven hours of self study in between.
You never know when a child is going to present with an issue, and the chances are, you are now more likely than ever to be the recipient of such a scenario. We want to help you be ready, and believe that in doing so, you will improve the quality of life for many, and in some cases you will save lives.
Book your place here – https://bit.ly/YouthMHFABookingForm