There is currently a mental health crisis in our schools. One in eight five to 19 year olds has a mental health problem and this is growing.
The Mental Health Foundation has stated that it is important that we put a stop to this urgently, because we know that 50% of all mental health problems are developed by the age 14 and 75% by the age of 24.
The Mental Health Foundation’s Peer Education Project (PEP) is a school-based programme that aims to give young people the skills they need to safeguard their mental health, and that of their peers.
An evaluation of the pilot phase of the project showed a significant reduction in emotional difficulties among those who took part. Plus, half of the students improved their understanding of stigma, and teachers have reported improvements in the whole school culture around mental health.
The charity says that the evidence is compelling. They are working with 75 schools to reach 15,000 pupils with the programme, but state that this is not enough. They need your help to reach out.
They feel that, through effective prevention strategies, like the ones they are employing, they could have as profound an impact on mental health as vaccines had on polio in the 1950s.
For more information about the Mental Health Foundation CLICK HERE