Monday 20th October 2025

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This is how we share information and good practices relating to mental health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges

What's New

AcSEED Youth MH Award

18th July 2025

AcSEED receives Recognised Leader in Youth Mental Health Awareness 2025 Award from Acquisition International.

Michael Syddall Accreditation

14th May 2024

Michael Syddall CofE (Aided) Primary School in Richmond, North Yorkshire receive AcSEED Award

Sherborne House Accreditation

16th January 2024

Sherborne House School in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire receive AcSEED Award

Motivation

Being a young person can be stressful, even for those children who don't have a diagnosable mental health problem. Support is crucial at this vulnerable age, and schools are ideally placed to provide it. Young people spend much of their time in school, and it can frequently offer a safe environment in which to seek extra support. Society has a duty to ensure that young people have easy access to emotional support, and schools are the natural reference point for children who are unable or unwilling to get help from their parents or relevant organisations.

School years should offer the opportunity for both academic and personal development, both should be considered and valued equally. In recent years league tables have put a sharp focus on educational development and achievement. Whilst academic qualifications are undoubtedly important, so is the need to foster well rounded and emotionally robust individuals. In fact there is a close relationship between these objectives as emotional wellbeing is usually a pre-requisite for student's to achieve their full academic potential.

Mental health difficulties in young people can emerge in various forms and to differing degrees. It is a topic afforded little attention and thus suffering students often receive help only when they have reached a point of crisis. Many young people who have experienced such distress recognise that extra support through school could have helped significantly in understanding and managing their emotional vulnerabilities before they had opportunity to escalate. Schools are well placed to support the development of emotional resilience, which could help to avoid future requirements for more intense mental health treatment and the associated social and financial costs.