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‘There is only one thing worse than saying the wrong thing, and that is saying nothing at all’

Schools across the country have been challenged about the extent and quality of support that they offer to students with mental health challenges. Meanwhile, teachers have been urged to embrace their role in supporting pupils' mental health

Fears that there is too much “box-ticking” rather than genuine prioritisation of mental health were raised as part of a rallying cry to schools at SecEd and Headteacher Update’s Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools conference.

The event took place in Birmingham on Friday (June 17) when colleagues from schools across the country came together to share best practice about mental health work in education.

Keynote speaker Dick Moore delivered a galvanising address at the event but warned that some schools needed to do more to genuinely prioritise mental health.

Mr Moore, a former teacher and headteacher of 23 years, lost one of his four sons Barney, who took his own life in 2011 after suffering from mental health problems.

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