Mental health

Mental wellbeing in school age children is declining.

Mean WEMWBS score - all pupils

The Pupil Wellbeing Survey responses demonstrate that those in minority ethnic groups and those in areas of deprivation report finding it harder to access mental health support. In addition referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are disproportionately higher for the White British ethnic group.

Emerging concerns

Despite the numbers reporting smoking cigarettes declining over recent years, 2022 saw a huge rise in young people vaping, meaning overall exposure to nicotine rose by 42% between 2020 and 2022.
The Pupil Wellbeing Survey has also highlighted a reduction in the proportion of pupils reporting they get the recommended number of hours sleep per night from 60.7% in 2018 to 51.5% in 2022.

This is coupled with an increase in the proportion of pupils reporting they used the Internet, gaming, social network and texting between going to bed and going to sleep.