In the survey of around 4,000 teachers, 28 per cent who teach at schools judged as “good”, “requires improvement”, or “inadequate” said that they had received training, in comparison with 49 per cent from schools deemed “outstanding”.
Across all respondents, a total of 41 per cent of secondary school teachers had received mental health training in the 2021/22 academic year, compared with 35 per cent the previous year.
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These figures are particularly potent in the context of the current crisis in young people’s mental health following the impact of national lockdowns, according to the study.
It also notes that 82 per cent of teachers said that they had noticed an increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms among their students in the past 12 months.
A further 70 per cent agreed that they had seen reduced motivation and engagement among pupils, and 66 per cent reported worsening of existing mental health problems.
Last month, former children’s commissioner for England Anne Longfield published a report in collaboration with the Centre for Mental Health that warned “failing to support some young people with mental health problems could lead to more behavioural incidents at school, a rise in exclusions, and more children then becoming at risk of grooming and exploitation.”
Teachers attributed the lack of training to three main obstacles: absence of qualified staff, insufficient help from professionals, and lack of time.
The Early Intervention Foundation has called for on Education Secretary James Cleverley to provide schools with the support necessary for them to aid students facing mental health issues.
Donna Molloy, director of policy at the EIF, said: “Now more than ever, it is essential that teachers are adequately trained to support young people in the development of essential life skills, which includes the skills needed to maintain good mental health and wellbeing.
“Young people’s mental health must remain a national priority, and teacher training and dedicated time in the curriculum for focusing on wellbeing are important ways of reducing young people’s mental health issues.”
