The coalition’s open call for evidence sought views from young people, parents and professionals on current approaches to behaviour management in schools, amid a rise in children and young people dealing with mental health problems and the increased use of punitive approaches, such as exclusion and removal rooms.
Of the 111 young people and 495 parents who responded to the survey, 79 per cent of five-to-18 year-olds and 87 percent of parents agreed that a young person’s behaviour is linked to their mental health.
However, just 21 percent of young people and seven per cent of parents felt that schools were responsive to young people’s mental health needs when dealing with behavioural issues. This compares with 32 per cent of the 234 teachers and mental health practitioners that responded to the survey.
More than half the young people said that the behaviour management techniques used in schools were “not effective in improving behaviour”, compared with 80 per cent of parents and 56 per cent of professionals.
With one in six children and young people aged six to 16 experiencing a mental health problem in 2021 compared with one in nine in 2017, Sir Norman Lamb, chair of the CYPMHC, said that children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is “more important than ever”.
He added: “Our preliminary findings suggest that whilst young people are aware that behaviour is often linked to their mental health, they do not believe that current behaviour policies are effective.
“The call for evidence has captured wide-ranging views on the topic of behaviour and mental health in schools, and we are keen to understand all viewpoints throughout the inquiry. We want to inform government policies and school practices that boost children’s mental health and behaviour for everyone’s benefit.”
The coalition, which represents over 260 charities and academic institutions, will report its full findings early next year.
