Pupils disciplined for mental health-related issues, warns charity
Joe Lepper
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Almost half of pupils have been disciplined by their schools for behaviour linked to mental health problems, a survey has found.
It has emerged that 48 per cent of young people had been disciplined for behaviour related to their mental health.
Punishments include being excluded, physically restrained and put in isolation away from their classmates.
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Blog: What now for children’s recovery?
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Research: The Mental Health Needs of Children and Young People with Learning Disabilities
The survey by the charity Mind gathered the views of almost 3,000 young people, parents, carers, school staff and mental health professionals England wide.
One in four school staff were aware of a pupil being excluded because of their mental health, the survey also found. Exclusions are more prevalent among boys with mental health problems (17 per cent) than girls (seven per cent).
The research also highlights a lack of support for young people from schools.
Some 62 per cent of young people said they have received no support from their school for mental health problems.
In addition, 68 per cent of pupils said they have missed school due to their mental health.
“As a young person struggling with your mental health, learning and taking part in school life can be a significant challenge,” said Mind senior policy and campaigns officer David Stephenson.
“What you want is for someone to listen to you, try to understand what is happening and help you get the support you need. Our inquiry has found that this isn’t happening.”
Mind’s survey also found that 70 per cent of young people who had experienced racism in school said this had affected their mental health.
Stephenson has called for government action to tackle racism in schools.
“Our inquiry heard how racism significantly impacts young people’s mental health, yet the UK government’s failure to require schools to report on racist incidents means the true scale of racism in schools remains unidentified and the full impact unknown,” he added.
Among young people with mental health problems who had been disciplined in school is Ella, now 17, who has emetophobia (a fear of vomiting) and OCD among other issues.
“The constant anxiety made it almost impossible to concentrate in lessons, but it was GCSE year, so my teachers’ main priority was my grades,” she said.
“I could be in a separate room during lessons, as long as I did my work, and I was given a leaflet about exam stress which obviously didn’t help.”
Another young person with mental health problems affected by school discipline is Zoe, now 21. She has anxiety, PTSD and depression but was given lunchtime detentions by her school and shouted at by a teacher during a panic attack.
“Mental health problems made my life extremely difficult at school, because they were very negative towards me, and my behaviour declined as a result,” she said.
"Teachers shouted at me during a panic attack and refused to let me take my prescribed medication."
— Mind (@MindCharity) June 30, 2021
On the day we publish our report into mental health and secondary education, Zoe blogs about how she was let down by her school.
Read her story here > https://t.co/4oc4p4zbOY pic.twitter.com/NbQIbD8Sja
Earlier this week, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson launched a in schools, including the use of exclusions.
Meanwhile, South East of England based pre-school and school counselling charity Fegans has been acquired by Spurgeons Children’s Charity.
Spurgeons has made the move to add to its support for children and their families amid recovery from the Covid pandemic.
“Fegans school-based interventions and services will widen Spurgeons service base - with the aim of reaching more children to support them in their home-life,” said Spurgeons chief executive Ross Hendry.