The Importance of Mental Health in the classroom

This Mental Health Awareness Week we have compiled some information to help you understand the importance of promoting good mental health in the classroom. Read on to find out more!

Good mental health and wellbeing help children to feel comfortable and confident when engaging in the classroom providing them with a more fulfilling individual learning experience.

Embedding an evidence-based, whole-school approach helps to create a safe, calm, and supportive learning environment for all students while allowing you to identify those pupils who need a little extra support through targeted interventions

It is not surprising that schools see a trend of heightened anxiety and stress among their pupils during exam periods so it is important to manage this carefully.

Improving the overall well-being of the school is crucial for teachers and support staff as well. Evidence suggests that an overall improvement has a positive effect on school climate, student achievement, school outcomes, and teacher retention rates.

Many different factors contribute to a school’s well-being, but some of the most important to consider are the school’s culture, the support given to teachers, student engagement and achievement. A school with a positive culture is one that has created an environment where everyone feels valued and respected – teachers feel supported by their colleagues, students become more engaged in learning, and as a result, have more chance to thrive academically.

What steps can you take to support positive mental health in the classroom?

With students spending a lot of time in the classroom every week, it is one of the most important environments for encouraging positive mental health. As a teacher or support staff, you will often be the first line of support to any student that is struggling with their mental health so it is vital that you’re aware of steps that you can take to create a safe space.

Some of the most practical steps include:

1. Build positive relationships with the child – A child that is comfortable communicating with you will be more open to discussing potentially difficult topics.
2. Teach coping strategies such as deep breathing and mindfulness – taking a few minutes a day to build mindful habits will not just help students in the classroom, but they can be utilised and incorporated into the rest of their everyday lives.
3. Encourage physical activity and time outside – being active has such a positive effect on everyone’s mental health so encouraging students to be outside and moving their bodies at break times is vital and can be fun for them as well.
4. Collaborate with parents and professionals – parents will always have an important role to play in supporting the mental health of their child. By working in collaboration with them, either pre-empting any potential issues by providing them with resources and support or being open with them about any difficulties you may have noticed their child is having, can be so key to ensuring the right support is in place.

You should always speak to your School Leadership Team and Safeguarding Lead about any mental health strategies they have in place or any potential training they might be able to provide you with such as Mental Health First Aid training. It is imperative upon starting a supply or permanent assignment that you identify the Safeguarding Lead so that if you have any queries or situations that arise, you can reach out for additional support.

To learn more about the importance of mental health in the classroom, visit these useful resources:

Official Government website on mental health and wellbeing in schools

Information about Mental Health Awareness Week in schools

Anna Freud Mentally Health Schools – Resources that you can use across the whole school

For more information, you can contact us via our contact form here