Mental Health and Well-Being

Horwitz & Schield (1999) says that mental illness is a problem in cognitive and personal factors. 

However, it can also be described as a person’s overall emotional, psychological and social well-being which can affect the way in which we think, act and feel (Mental Health.gov, 2017). Mental health problems can occur due to lots of different reasons such as; childhood trauma, domestic violence, bereavement, drug and alcohol misuse, long- term stress and bullying (Mind, 2018).

The media has a very large impact on young people’s mental health these days as Governments and media such as television, social media and magazines promote visions and forms of physical perfection which children and young people want to follow (Evans et al, 2008).

CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) is one of the services available that help children and young people with mental health issues. CAMHS is an NHS service that helps young people to deal with emotional, behavioural and mental health issues. This service helps to support children and young people who suffer from depression, eating disorders, self-harm, abuse an so much more (Young Minds).

In the Donaldson curriculum, the Areas of Learning and Experience teaches pupils subjects and themes such as sex and relationships, physical education and healthy eating and cooking in order to support children and young people’s social, emotional, spiritual and physical health and well-being (Donaldson, 2015, p.45).

Donaldson says young people should be healthy, confident individuals who:

• Have knowledge about the impact of diet and exercise on physical and mental health
• Have knowledge and support on how to stay safe
• Take part in physical activity
• Make rational decisions about their lifestyle and how to manage risk
• Have confidence to participate in performance
• Form positive relationships

(Donaldson, 2015, p.30)

Attachment to nature is key to a child’s health and well-being during childhood (Bohling, 2006:51)

therefore, when a child has a positive experience with a natural environment it helps their emotional development which can make them feel better (Louv, 2006). For children who have mental health issues and feel like they are angry at the world; caring for flowers, pets or spending time listening to nature can help children to develop a sense of belonging and social development (Elliot, 2008) If children do not have frequent experiences with nature, children begin to gain unhealthy emotional/psychological states such as anxiety and depression so experiencing nature at least once a week can help prevent children gaining these symptoms (Louv, 2006).                                         (Image 1)

In order to help children with Mental Health issues, schools can pay for programmes such as Jigsaw, Roots of empathy and PATHS which work with children in primary schools, each programme focuses on different age ranges but all of them work within the primary school age (Mentally Healthy Schools, 2018). Programmes like these provide well-structured progressive lesson plans and teaching resources to help children along their educational and well- being journey and promote positive mental health and well-being of children in primary schools, children learn coping skills and more knowledge about metal well – being by raising social and emotional competence with children (Mentally Healthy Schools, 2018).

A week plan to promote positive mental health and well-being: (Mental Health Foundation)

References: 

Bohling, V (2006). The power of nature to help children heal. Exchange 17 (1), 49–52.

Brooks, F. et, al. (2015) HBSC England National Report 2014. University of Hertfordshire; Hatfield, UK.

Donaldson, G. (2015) Successful Futures: Independent review of curriculum and assessment arrangements in Wales.

Elliott, S (2008). The Outdoor Playspace Naturally for Children Birth to Five Years. Castle Hill, NSW: Pademelon Press.

Evans S, Ferrando S, Findler M, Stowell C, Smart C, Haglin D. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 2008;22:716–721.

Green, H. et. al (2005) Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain, 2004. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Louv, R. (2006) The Last Child in the Woods. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books.

Mental Health.gov (2017) What is Mental Health? Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

Mental Health Foundation. 5 ways your school can promote mental health. Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/schools-wellbeing-week-pack.pdf (Accessed 04 December 2018)

Mind (2018) Understanding Mental Health. National Association for Mental Health. London.

ONS (2016) Selected Children’s Well-being Measures by Country: 3 Centre Forum. Commission on Child.

Young Minds (2017) Mental Health Statistics. Available at: https://youngminds.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/mental-health-stats/

Young Minds. Guide to CAMHS. Available at: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/

Mentally Healthy Schools (2018) Whole- school programmes. Available at: https://www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/teaching-resources/whole-school-programmes/ (Accessed 02 December 2018)

 Image 1: http://www.naturehealthandwellbeing.ie/news-bedford/2018/4/22/2-day-training-in-nature-based-interventions-for-mental-health (Accessed 04 December 2018)