Whole-school mental health – a school counsellor's perspective

The number of children and young people requiring support for mental health problems is argued to be on the rise (Lamb, 2017). Schools are therefore finding it increasingly difficult to deliver provision for the large number of students experiencing mental distress.

Since children spend so much time at school, teachers are in an ideal position to identify signs and symptoms of mental health problems. However, teachers are not trained mental health professionals and they should not be expected to fulfil this role.

Although many agree mental health problems in children and young people have increased, the validity of this has been debated. Fox (2016) questions the “loose” terminology used in mental health, emphasising the importance of distinguishing between mental health, mental health problems and mental illness.