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So then, once we’ve identified all these mental health problems

38 replies

fedup21 · 17/06/2019 13:43

In our classes, what are the government proposing that we do next...?!

OP posts:
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LadyPollyEstherCardigan · 17/06/2019 13:49

I thought the same when I saw the news, @fedup21. And when are the government going to do something about teachers' mental health problems as a result of endless workload, constant scrutiny, accountability etc? It's like how we (along with the NHS) are going to be held responsible for spotting potential knife crimes as well. Hmm

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noblegiraffe · 17/06/2019 13:59

We haven’t got the resources to deal with the kids with mental health problems that we’ve already spotted, so spotting more kids will just increase the backlog.

Doesn’t this training already happen in schools anyway? I’ve had loads of INSET on signs of self-harm, depression and so on. Is that unusual?

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RandomMess · 17/06/2019 14:05

I was so angry there is insufficient MH provision and has been for years AngryAngryAngryAngry

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MalloryLaurel · 17/06/2019 18:54

Maybe it would be helpful to study online to find out what mental illness looks like in children and how to manage those pupils. That's what I want my ds2 's teachers to do as some have given him panic attacks with their insensitive behaviour and lack of knowledge about mental illness. Did you mean to be so flippant?

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LucidDream · 17/06/2019 19:05

Well duh.....they can refer them to CAMHS.

Where if they're lucky enough to be accepted into the waiting list, they might get seen in two years time.

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CraftyGin · 17/06/2019 19:39

Surely it’s better to identify than not identify?

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 17/06/2019 19:42

There are virtually no resources. Classes are getting bigger and bigger. Training on 'how to spot' will not help. Most of us can identify, most of the time, but have virtually nothing available to us as support if we do so.

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WhyNotMe40 · 17/06/2019 19:43

When I saw the headline I honestly thought it would be about teacher mental health due to the ridiculous amounts of MH issues and frequency of breakdown there are in the profession.
I think most teachers are already aware of student mental health, and the ones that aren't - well no amount of training can fix that

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WhyNotMe40 · 17/06/2019 19:45

Most classes I know don't have money for paper, printing, books or glue sticks.
How will schools pay for all the extra time and resources needed to actually help the kids anyway!

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noblegiraffe · 17/06/2019 19:45

Training teachers to spot mental illness is pure box-ticking. Someone wanting to say ‘I’ve done something for the mental health crisis’ when in fact they’ve done fuck-all.

What’s needed is people who are trained to deal with mental health issues, not a PowerPoint about the signs of depression or an eating disorder with no idea what to do about it.

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CraftyGin · 17/06/2019 19:45

There is money sloshing around - EHCPs

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CaptainMyCaptain · 17/06/2019 19:46

That was my thought. It's one thing to spot the problems another to get anything done about it.

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noblegiraffe · 17/06/2019 19:47

Crafty what on earth makes you think that a kid who is self-harming would get an EHCP?

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Tableclothing · 17/06/2019 19:52

I had lots of ideas for cogent and stimulating contributions to this thread, but then I saw that Theresa May said "Tackling this burning injustice has always been a personal priority for me," and I damaged myself with bitter laughing.

Fwiw the "new idea" appears to be tacking an extra PowerPoint on to new teacher training, not anything that will happen to teachers currently working.

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Tableclothing · 17/06/2019 19:55

www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/news/could-you-be-education-mental-health-practitioner

Noble I wondered if Crafty was referring to EMHPs (see link).

But there's about 100 of them total and I've heard bad things about the training, so can't imagine they'll be making much of a dent.

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FamilyOfAliens · 17/06/2019 19:56

In my LA area, CAMHS have pushed support for mild to moderate MH problems down to schools.

Then when the problem gets too big or complex for us to deal with with our limited expertise and resources, all CAMHS are offering is a place on a two-year waiting list.

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bananasonfire · 17/06/2019 20:11

'In my LA area, CAMHS have pushed support for mild to moderate MH problems down to schools.'

This is exactly what is happening - push the responsibility onto teachers. A few INSETS and a bit of online training is not going to equip teachers to spot and cater for mental health difficulties. This policy could do more harm than good.

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Neolara · 17/06/2019 20:14

Op - I think you're meant to wave your magic wand and instantly cure them of their difficulties.

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BackInTime · 17/06/2019 20:53

With the greatest respect to teachers, I would like my DCs health and any MH issues to be dealt with by trained and qualified health professionals.

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CaptainMyCaptain · 17/06/2019 20:55

With the greatest respect to teachers, I would like my DCs health and any MH issues to be dealt with by trained and qualified health professionals.
I think teachers would agree with you.

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WhyNotMe40 · 17/06/2019 21:05

This teacher definitely agrees!

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thebookeatinggirl · 17/06/2019 21:07

In my LEA the Primary learning mentors (who were trained in MH issues and supported many children in difficult circumstances and with issues like anxiety, trauma, attachment disorders and low self-esteem) have all just been made redundant.

Most services that the SENCO could signpost parents to have been closed.

CAMHS referrals have such high thresholds and waiting lists that very very few children can be supported by them.

The last 3 parents who came to me asking for help, and who I suggested talk to their GPs came back to me and said the GP had told them they had no services to refer them to, and they should go through the school, as we are the ones to signpost.

I would love more training in spotting MH issues, but as a small primary school with limited additional adults and nowhere to refer children to, I just feel despair.

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LucidDream · 17/06/2019 21:09

My DD has an EHCP which has her mental health difficulties on there (amongst her other disabilities). She still has to sit on the 2 year CAMHS waiting list like every fucker else.

School can't do much for her MH difficulties apart from be understanding (which they are), and I wouldn't expect them to.

Her school also has a school mental health practitioner. This person offers 3 hours support to the school A MONTH. From what I can tell this involves generic drop in sessions for parents around anxiety, stress, exam pressure. No real life support for the actual pupils.

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grafittiartist · 17/06/2019 21:17

First of all- we already do.
Second - the kids would needless mental health support if we allowed them to grow and flourish in a wide curriculum.
It's all set up for stress at the moment.

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MsAwesomeDragon · 17/06/2019 21:21

I have identified kids with mental health issues in my classes in the past. There are no resources to deal with them.

Teachers really, really don't want to have mental health added to our list of responsibilities. I'm happy to pass on concerns to appropriate people, but they then need to diagnose and treat the issue. I don't have that expertise, and I would need a lot more than a couple of evenings of training to become an expert.

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