The project has been run by the mental health campaign Time to Change and has taken place in secondary schools in Kent over the last 18 months.
Time to Change, which is run by the charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, aims reduce the stigma that is often attached to mental health and supports schools to get students talking more openly about these issues.
The results of its pilot project come ahead of the campaign’s Make Time 4 Mental Health initiative this November, when schools across the country will be encouraged to use bespoke resources and activities to discuss mental health with their students.
An independent evaluation of the campaign’s work in the Kent schools found a 16 per cent increase in the number of conversations taking place between teachers and young people about mental health and a 10 per cent improvement in young people’s knowledge of mental health.
There was also a 15 per cent reduction in derogatory language used by pupils to describe people affected by mental health problems.
The pilot schools made use of the Time to Change resources, which are aimed at encouraging conversations about mental health and getting students to reflect on their own opinions.
A teacher from one of the school's involved in the pilot said: “Creating a culture of openness and tolerance towards mental health issues and raising awareness about the need to tackle stigma and discrimination has always been a priority for us. We found the free resources really helpful, especially in making students feel more confident about talking about mental health and challenging their own views and preconceptions about mental health issues.”
Jo Loughran, head of children and young people at Time to Change, said: “One in 10 young people will experience a mental health problem. We need to make it more acceptable to talk openly about the topic of mental health like it’s every day and ordinary.
“Feeling as though you can talk to your peers if you’re feeling down or going through a difficult time is so important and can help keep us mentally healthy. These results show the measurable impact that simple, tested, easy-to-deliver activities can have.
“In November, we’ll be encouraging secondary schools across England to deliver a series of activities that will give young people the opportunity to think about and discuss mental health in the same way they might physical health. Building on the success of last year’s campaign, which saw over 360 schools take part, we are refreshing the materials and sessions to inspire and equip schools with everything they need to contribute to a national conversation about mental health.”
Make Time 4 Mental Health runs in November and aims to improve understanding of mental health problems and the impact of stigma and discrimination. For more information on the activities and resources, and how schools can get involved, visit www.time-to-change.org.uk/november