Seven in 10 teachers feel ‘ill-equipped’ to deal with mental health
The data found that over 25 per cent of 16-25 year olds who were bullied at school experienced mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. A further 40 per cent of young people surveyed maintained that having a teacher trained to deal with bullying would have made a significant difference to their experience.
However, of the 170 teachers who took part, only 30 per cent confirmed there was adequate support within the school to support children dealing with mental health afflictions.
In addition, 57 per cent of teachers said in-school counsellors would be able to better support vulnerable children, and showed how staff wished for better training to manage such issues.
Lauren Seager-Smith, National Coordinator of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: “Bullying is a public health issue. We all need to play our part to stop bullying wherever and whenever it happens – whether it’s in school, the community or online – but it’s vital that we also invest in support for children and families impacted by bullying.
“We would like to see more training for teachers and health professionals, in school counselling, and much needed funds for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.”
Sarah Brennan, CEO of YoungMinds said: “We tend to think of bullying as a series of throwaway incidents in a child’s life but this survey shows how devastating and life-changing the experience of bullying can be.
“If it isn’t dealt with effectively it can lead to years of pain and suffering that go on long into adulthood. We need to skill up teachers, parents and GPs to be able to respond to victims in ways that make them feel listened to, taken seriously and cared for.”
Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said the research outlined a greater need to support children affected by mental health problems. Bousted cited 90 per cent of teachers over the past two years had agreed the demand for support had increased.
Bousted said: “Despite the obvious need for greater expertise amongst education professionals, just nine per cent of school staff feel sufficiently trained to identify the signs of mental health issues in pupils.
“A worrying 32 per cent of respondents stated they were given no training whatsoever to help spot potential issues, while 45 per cent feel the training they received was insufficient.”
Latest News
01/10/2025 - 10:23
The Welsh Government has agreed to continue a licensing deal which will give all learners at Welsh state schools free access to Microsoft 365 at school and at home.
01/10/2025 - 09:51
Schools will play a greater role in ensuring every pupil has a clear post-16 destination, with a new approach to a guaranteed college or FE provider place available as a safety net being tested.
30/09/2025 - 09:51
The Chancellor has committed over £10 million in funding to guarantee a library for all primary schools by the end of this parliament.
30/09/2025 - 09:45
New data from Ofqual shows that schools and colleges across England are making progress in cyber security training, but are struggling to recover quickly from attacks when they occur.
29/09/2025 - 10:34
Low-income White children (LIWC) are among the least engaged pupils in England’s schools, according to new research.
