13 September 2001
Dear Sir
Re: stress of a neglected generation - Times 2, 13 September 2001
Now that society has acknowledged that stress and mental ill-health does affect children and young people, can we please start talking seriously about how best to promote good mental health for children and young people.
We appear to be on the way to the first stage, which is acceptance. However, we still need to do much more to encourage children to be aware of their own mental health - accepting that both mental and physical health are equally essential. The parental role is critical in this, and I hope that Work-Life-Balance Week will encourage parents to consider these issues, but we must recognise that it is also part of the role of schools.
Children spend a major part of their day in the school environment. Peer pressure and the attitudes of teachers and staff will determine whether children regard stress or mental ill-health (for example, depression and anxiety) as a failure to be hidden away, or something to be openly addressed. We have been evaluating approaches within schools both to enable all children to talk about difficult issues and seek support when they first need it and to identify and work with children at greater risk of developing mental health problems. This research has led to guidelines on mental health in schools being issued by the Department for Education and Skills. Hopefully this will help us to nurture a new generation with greater resilience and understanding of mental health, for whom work-life-balance is a reality.
Yours faithfully
Ruth Lesirge
Chief Executive, Mental Health Foundation
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