5 ways to help students’ wellbeing in post-16 educational settings

Wellbeing and educational crises are both worsening dramatically year by year. Especially the situation in post-16 educational settings is getting out of hands and our 16-18 year-olds are in need of wellbeing support more than ever. There is already a gap in support for post-16 students and the issue is only getting deeper.

Early intervention could help not just the students but also the educational settings to perform better. Investing in the wellbeing support of 16-18 year-olds is essential to support their personal growth, academic success, and long-term mental health and wellbeing. It equips them with the necessary tools and resources to navigate the challenges they face during this critical phase of their lives. We have the chance to help young people to stop getting to the wellbeing crisis point in the first place. The longer it takes us to help these young people, the worse the outcome will be. Content students have more time and capability to focus on their studies and release their full potential through education and beyond.

Why do we need to improve the wellbeing support for 16-18 year-olds?

The wellbeing crisis amongst young people is drastically worsening. In a recent survey part of Mental Health of Children and Young People Surveys from NHS Digital, we find that in England, young people (17-19-year-olds) with a probable mental disorder was 1 in 10 back in 2017 and rose to a shocking 1 in 6 in 2020. Last year, 2022, the rate rose again from 1 in 6 young people having a probable mental disorder to an alarming 1 in 4.

In a recent analysis of NHS Digital data by Young Minds shared by The Guardian, we find that there has been a distressing 76% increase since 2019 in the number of children referred to CAMHS in England. In 2022, a record-breaking 1.4 million children sought help from the NHS for their mental health struggles and we can’t see light at the of the tunnel.

5 ways to improve your school’s wellbeing support

Whether you are the principal, teacher, wellbeing professional or even a student, we all aim for the same goal: An improved situation for 16-18 year-olds wellbeing support. It’s important to normalise the discussion about wellbeing and mental health and make sure everyone has access to well-needed wellbeing support without delay.

1. Provide wellbeing workshops and programs for students – Organise regular workshops and programs that focus on various aspects of wellbeing, including stress management, mindfulness, time management, and building healthy relationships. Invite guest speakers, organise group discussions, and provide resources to help students navigate challenges and develop resilience. For example, Samaritans offers support to schools through postvention services, lesson plans and school talks.
2. Have a dedicated wellbeing professional – Have a dedicated individual who specialises in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of post-16 students. This individual can provide the wellbeing workshops and programs mentioned above, as well as assemblies, one-on-one counselling, organise guest speakers, conduct regular check-ins, and offer guidance on coping mechanisms and stress management to students. Have this wellbeing professional present at the school at all times so that students have a safe person to go to whenever they might need some time to calm down, talk to a trusted adult and take part in wellbeing-related activities hosted by the wellbeing professional.
3. Create a safe environment – Foster an environment that promotes inclusivity, respect, and empathy. Encourage students to share their experiences, thoughts, and concerns openly without fear of judgment. Provide support networks or student-led initiatives to foster a sense of belonging and host activities to encourage everyone to prioritise and take care of their wellbeing and mental health.
4. Strengthen communication channels – Establish effective communication channels between students, staff, and parents/guardians. Regularly update students and parents on wellbeing initiatives, support services, and any changes in policies. Implement feedback mechanisms to allow students to voice their concerns or suggestions, and ensure that the school administration addresses them promptly. Students are full of ideas and they can help the school to come up with accessible ideas on how to improve the overall wellbeing support in schools.
5. Train teachers and staff – Sometimes there isn’t an option to hire a specific wellbeing professional to join the school team. Instead, there is always the opportunity to train teachers and staff to support young people with wellbeing. The overall goal is to normalise wellbeing and mental health, raise awareness, share resources and recognise any warning signs within students.

There are many accessible ways to improve the wellbeing support offering in educational settings. Better wellbeing and mental health support will help the entire school and provide early intervention which can help us avoid wellbeing crises from happening. We need to balance our opportunities and take action. It’s a great idea to start by creating a whole school wellbeing strategy.

Our charity is here to help you

We at mdeducational foundation are aiming for a world where all young people have access to wellbeing support they need without delay. We want to help schools and educational settings to kickstart their long-term wellbeing strategy by providing salary funding.

We provide schools and educational settings across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland an opportunity to receive salary funding to place a dedicated full-time wellbeing professional into their establishment. Wellbeing Leads are placed in schools to support post-16 students with their wellbeing by providing early intervention and normalising wellbeing and mental health.

We’ve already seen an improvement in young people’s wellbeing from the placements we’ve made so far, and our work is helping to raise awareness around the crucial issues surrounding the wellbeing and mental health of young people. Hear what a CEO of Multi Academy Trust and a student have to say about the Wellbeing Lead placements in their schools below:

”We are delighted at the difference that the Wellbeing Lead has made in such a short space of time and I wanted to acknowledge the contribution that the mdeducational foundation has made in helping our students to thrive in post-16 education.”

– CEO of Multi Academy Trust, England

”When I talk to friends in other schools and realise the support they don’t have, it makes me realise just how lucky we are to have such a brilliant Wellbeing Lead.”

– Student, England

Are you a school or educational setting within England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland and need help supporting your students’ wellbeing? We at mdeducational foundation are here to help your post-16 educational setting to kickstart a long-term wellbeing commitment by providing salary funding to place a wellbeing professional into your establishment. We help 16-18 year-olds to feel supported in every aspect of their wellbeing and make sure they have access to wellbeing support they need without delay.

Learn more about our charity and get the process started by completing a short Expression of Interest form.