Campaign for mental health education to be compulsory in schools

A mental health charity has launched a campaign which hopes to get mental health education delivered in schools.

The Shaw Mind Foundation has today, 4 April, launched HeaducationUK in hopes of changing how mental health education is delivered in the UK.

The aim of the campaign is to secure a parliamentary debate on the topic. secure support from psychiatrists and psychologists, and engage with policy stakeholders to discuss how mental health could best be taught in schools.

HeaducationUK has support from the children’s mental health charity YoungMinds, of which Sarah Brennan, chief executive, said: “Children should learn about mental health from a young age, to build their resilience, and wellbeing should also be a fundamental priority in every aspect of the education system.”

Prior to the launch, a government petition was put out in order to show those who support the need for this education.

More than 54,000 people have signed and the government has since responded.

According to the Huffington Post, a government spokesperson said: “Schools should decide to teach pupils about mental health developing their own curriculum to reflect the needs of the pupils.

“Good mental health and wellbeing is a priority for the department. To support schools in developing their PSHE curriculum, we have funded the PSHE Association to produce guidance and age-appropriate lesson plans to teach about mental health.”