Why do we still find it hard to own up to even minor struggles with mental health? Andy Woodward argues that schools urgently need to normalise the subject and promote emotional literacy
By the end of last term, my mental health was not great.
And, by all that we teach, that sentence should seem entirely normal. It may indeed read that way to you (in which case the rest of this post may seem somewhat overblown!). After all, we repeatedly state in our PSHE sessions that mental health is equivalent to physical health – no more or less remarkable – and that we will all have ups and downs in both, no human getting to live life at a fixed point in either aspect. Given that I’m a teacher, the statement should seem particularly unsurprising if considering the point of exhaustion most in that profession reach by the end of a challenging term.
Even as I insist in assemblies that mental health should be de-stigmatised I can feel all the old baggage: insinuations of weakness, or the assumption that I’m over-sharing
And yet, it feels risky to write. I already feel somewhat stressed at having done so. Even as I insist, in assemblies and in various resources, that mental health should be de-stigmatised and discussed in everyday terms, I can nonetheless feel all the old baggage applied to such an admission; insinuations of weakness, or the assumption that in this I’m over-sharing.
But that’s silly. Because it was, and is, no big deal. The overhanging anxiety, quickened temper or struggle to sleep that it refers to are familiar to all – and, hurrah, the wondrous gift that is several weeks of Easter holidays, spent with family and friends, often outdoors, occasionally even in sunshine, then did its work and made me feel rather cheery and content. Although that won’t last forever either.
Where well-being and,mental health are concerned, we exist on a continuum – sometimes feeling well, sometimes under the weather, sometimes on top of the world…
This is the stuff of life. Where well-being and, yes, mental health are concerned, we exist on a continuum – sometimes feeling well, sometimes under the weather, sometimes on top of the world… and, for some, sometimes in need of intervention and medical assistance. We encourage regular self-assessment on a scale of 1-10 among our pupils. Where someone finds themselves on the lowest numbers, certainly if rooted there for any sustained amount of time, then their mental health may in fact be a very big deal. In such cases, we will both help a child to get help and provide our support and guidance alongside that of the professionals, whenever required.
We at Harrodian want our pupils to recognise it in themselves when they’re struggling – and we want them to recognise it in their mates. More than anything, we want them then not to keep it to themselves. I can’t tell you that we’ve cracked it. But we have, for some time now, been sending out messages designed to normalise the subject of mental health and to promote emotional literacy. And there is some evidence that it’s gaining traction. Where issues with mental health occur, be it anxiety, depression or some of the scarier outworkings of those things (eg panic attacks, disordered eating or self-harm), Harrodians are increasingly likely to talk to us and to each other about it. Poor mental health needn’t be a scary secret. Disclosure is perhaps still a little harder for boys, but that stereotype is fraying, perhaps helped by a number of recent high-profile testimonies from within top-level sport or the urban music scene.
It is easier to blame technology or governments than to take responsibility in prioritising the sleep, exercise, sound values or family time in sustaining both ourselves and our children.
Is there a ‘mental health crisis’ at present? I’m not qualified to judge. Over one million mental health referrals were made on the NHS in 2017, certainly representing an ongoing increase. But then, happily, the waiting times were decreasing and, significantly, the recovery rates improving (most people DO get better!). It may be that increased awareness and lessening stigma simply mean more are coming forwards and being diagnosed. But, for all that, in the school and adult worlds I inhabit, yes, people do seem to be feeling more anxious than was once the case. Perhaps it’s linked to a backdrop of apocalyptic bad-news stories, to the unending chatter of social media and screen addiction, or to some kind of advanced-capitalist crisis?! But these things can be red herrings. It is easier to blame technology or governments than to take responsibility in prioritising the sleep, exercise, sound values or family time that remain the key in healing and sustaining both ourselves and our children.
You. Me. Certainly our senior Harrodians during this exam term. We all need to be aware of, and responsible for, our mental health. Let’s each keep driving the conversation and laying the foundations of good practice… before it’s our turn to urgently need it.
Please feel free to provide feedback to awoodward@harrodian.com