Mental health education as a mandatory subject in all UK schools

[user1490020754]

Following on from the Mumsnet survey about making PSHE lessons compulsory in all schools - I personally think that mental health education should be taken out of PSHE and made a mandatory subject (like sex education has, recently).

There is a government petition calling for this here petition.parliament.uk/petitions/176555 but I would also welcome the thoughts of other parents.

Consider, in the UK

1. 850,000 kids aged 5-16 have a mental health disorder
   
2. This equates to around 3 kids in every classroom
   
3. 1 in 5 children will experience a mental health difficulty before the age of 11
   
4. A third of children/teenagers with mental health issues failed to access specialist care and had to wait on average 66 days for an initial assessment

[2014newme]

Sex ed isn't a year round subject it's the occasional lesson.

[fallenempires]

I think that yes it's a great idea and should be included in PSHE lessons alongside other topics such as sex and relationships.I am very open about discussing all these things with my teens but I imagine that many young people may not have this option at home.

[NolongerAnxiousCarer]

Fantastic idea, everyone has mental health just as everyone has physical health.

[Mysterycat23]

Where are they going to get staff adequately qualified to discuss mental health to a high standard? There is so much misunderstanding and misinformation around.

I don't think 1 in 5 children are experiencing mental health difficulties before age 11. That's just ridiculous. Labels get slapped on people left right and centre these days for normal emotional responses, adults and children alike. It drives me nuts.

[fallenempires]

Mystery they won't,but it's better than nothing.IME humanities teachers also took over PSHE lessons but since the school became an academy all teaching staff take it on.I don't know if they receive additional training or not,one would hope so!