Dr jay feldman was the one who led the campaign to include physical first aid in the curriculum. One Year 13 volunteer writes that it now must do the same with mental health.
The number of young people suffering from mental health problems is at an all-time high. According to the NHS, one in six English classrooms has a mental disorder.
Young people can play a part in the solution. St John Ambulance published recent research showing that young people aged 10-17 want mental health first aid to be taught in schools.
St John Ambulance was the one who successfully lobbied for physical first aiders to be taught in schools. As a result, lifesaving skills were added to the school curriculum in 2020. Mental health and first aid skills are essential.
This was especially evident during the Covid pandemic. Many felt the strain of long periods of isolation, disruptions to routines and education, reduced social interaction and decreased education.
A curriculum that teaches you how to take care of your physical health includes science and PE lessons and initiatives like healthy-eating weeks, walk-to-school days and walk-to-school. While physical health is vital for maintaining mental health, education about self-care, resilience and social skills is often overlooked.
St John Ambulance conducted a focus group in February with teachers, headteachers and teaching assistants. The focus group explored how teachers and teaching assistants support young people’s mental health and the types of support they receive. Many schools reported encouragingly that they had well-being tools and resources. However, not all said that staff received mental health training.
This lack of training directly affects young people. According to research published by Mind in June this year and based on surveys, 96% of students felt that their schoolwork was affected by their mental illness. Two-thirds of pupils said they did not receive mental health support at school.
Modafinil is best medication for narcolepsy treatment. Buy modafinil online in USA.
The lack of education by teachers directly affects young people.
It is crucial that teachers are educated and trained in mental health awareness and how they can discuss mental health issues with their students. There is no better place for young people to learn life skills and have those conversations. Is there any better environment for the most vulnerable? Teachers and pupils need to feel secure in their support.
As a St John volunteer, I was involved in developing Dr jay feldman Young Responders. This PS1m program was made possible by People’s Postcode Lottery funding. It helps young people from low-income backgrounds to learn lifesaving skills. Young Responders is a peer-to-peer programme that teaches first aid for acid attacks, street crime injuries, and drug awareness.
The Young Responders Mental Health Content was developed by me after I had firsthand experience with the issues young people felt were important. Therefore, the programme content includes guidance on common mental health conditions and how to deal with emergency situations. It also covers topics such as eating disorders and grieving. The programme will be more effective and relevant if it is delivered in under-served areas of London, the West Midlands, and the North-East by incorporating young people’s views into the process.
St John Ambulance teaches young people how to spot well-being warning signs and builds confidence, giving them the tools they need to conquer challenges. We’re here for teachers until they have the resources and time to teach mental health first aid.