06/10/2021

How to promote health and wellbeing in schools

What do we mean by health and wellbeing in school?

Health and wellbeing usually refers to whole-person wellness; that is, physical health, mental, and emotional health. This is not least because the relationship between all three is important: physical health impacts mental health, and vice versa.

In schools, health and wellbeing takes on added importance as it plays a vital role in the early parts of childrens' development and, essentially, helps set them up for success. Pupils are in the classroom, on average, 190 days a year, so creating and nurturing a school culture of wellbeing is essential. Not least because it will support the physical, mental, and emotional health of pupils.

This might mean more physical activity and physical education, developing emotional intelligence and communication skills, or working on mindfulness and creativity, delivered through a variety of formats, from free play and to formal lessons and one-on-one sessions.   

But, like pupils, education professionals also need to be supported. This means workload management, mental health support, stress management , personal development and other initiatives. In turn, teachers will be better equipped to support their pupils.

The current state of health and wellbeing of students and staff

According to NHS England, 1 in 5 children and young people have a probable mental health condition – and that means, in the average classroom, there are around 5 children who will need specialist support.

And, consequently, schools are struggling to deal with challenges in young people's mental health. Data from Mind reveals 78% of school children think school has made their mental health worse, while around half say they have been punished at school for behaviour caused by mental health problems.

Because mental health and wellbeing are intrinsically linked, it's no surprise the wellbeing of children in the UK remains relatively low compared to other countries. Teachers and school staff are also affected, with record numbers planning to leave education because of mental health problems. Thus, supporting staff wellbeing is equally important.

Why is it important to promote wellbeing and mental health in schools?

Mental health affects young people throughout childhood and adolescence. Students with behavioural difficulties caused by mental health problems are more likely to be excluded, while university students are more likely to quit their course because of declining mental health.

Teachers and support staff are also experiencing negative effects. With workloads rising, staff are more worried about the state of their wellbeing and increasingly questioning whether they want to work in the the education sector. According to the Teacher Wellbeing Index, 68% of teachers say workload is the main reason for them considering other employment opportunities.

With schools being an important building block in the development of children, the question of whether students are being properly supported is an important one. With teaching staff being students' first port of call, and the intense demands and pressures of working within education, it's important to give them adequate support and make their working environment stable and positive.

Improving student and staff retention is strongly linked to improved wellbeing and better mental health. And as students and education professionals spend the majority of their time in schools or universities, their health and wellbeing can be greatly improved through the design and functionality of the spaces they work in.

How to promote wellbeing in schools: tips for better mental health

Promoting wellbeing in schools should be a top priority for all education professionals and policy makers – here are our seven top tips for improving physical and mental health in education.

1. Invest in more mental health and wellness training

With the rise in mental health issues in children and young people, teachers will need more support to safeguard students' emotional wellbeing. Yet many teachers and support staff don't feel like they have received the proper training to do so.

With mounting pressure from rising workloads and inadequate support at the ground level, teachers and education professionals struggle with their own mental health, too. Therefore, education settings should invest in more mental health and wellbeing strategies, including training, seminars, and CPDs, to support staff wellbeing and, in turn, safeguard children and young people's mental health.

A designated mental health lead alongside student mental health ambassadors can help to encourage a whole school approach and better spread awareness around mental health, making sure people know to access support when they need it.

2. Include mental health, wellbeing and building resilience in the curriculum

Students should learn how mental health and wellbeing can impact their quality of life, and improving the mental health literacy of students will provide key individual awareness to specific issues.

This can be enacted through specialised lessons on relationship education, mindfulness training, and the fundamentals of good mental health in school curriculums.

3. Teach children about nutrition and promote healthy eating

Healthy eating is connected to physical and mental wellbeing, and good nutrition can provide benefits from better productivity and energy levels to improved mental health and self-esteem.

Eating well and promoting positive relationships with food is vital for students and staff. By introducing a healthy eating curriculum, lunchtime or afterschool cooking clubs, and healthy, nutritious meals for both students and staff, healthy eating can become intuitive – and easy!

Simple changes such as this can offer a huge boost to mental health in young people and adults alike

4. Encourage students and staff to stay hydrated

Drinking enough water every day is vital for mental and physical health. Water makes up around 60% of the human body; it's responsible for lots of essential bodily functions, from regulating body temperature to delivering oxygen throughout the body.

When you don't drink enough water, you start to become dehydrated. This leads to physical symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, dry mouth, headaches, and fatigue; and mental symptoms such as brain fog, feelings of demotivation, and a lack of focus and productivity.

Providing safe and easy access to filtered drinking water is essential to ensuring students and staff feel their best. Water fountains, refill stations, and drinking water options for staff kitchen areas are essential to support adequate hydration levels – and advanced options like the Zip HydroTap, which offers filtered boiling, chilled, and sparkling from one tap, can incentivise good hydration habits.

5. Advocate for physical activity and encourage walking and cycling to school

Physical activity has many positive impacts on the body and mind. It increases mental alertness, which improves concentration and productivity, and boosts energy levels, improves mood, and reduces stress. Exercise also releases mood-enhancing chemicals, which reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and improve wellbeing.

Encourage regular physical activity through active travel schemes that promote sustainable and healthy modes of transport: walking, cycling, and scootering to school and university can mean a huge, positive impact on energy levels and mood.

6. Embrace opportunities for student and staff feedback

Students and school staff are the building blocks of school and university spaces. So it's necessary they're given the chance to participate in schoolwide decisions that impact their wellbeing.

Introducing 1:1 student and staff consultations, opinion surveys, student and teacher representatives, and opportunities to report feedback on teaching and learning methods are several core strategies that schools and universities can employ.

7. Adapt the school environment to boost learning and productivity

Flexible, multipurpose spaces with moveable furniture allow classrooms to adapt to various activities, while improved lighting, ventilation, and ergonomic furniture promote safety and comfort. Interactive whiteboards, personal tablets, and other technology can further enhance the dynamics of classrooms.

Outdoor learning spaces, on the other hand, offer new opportunities for teaching, encourage physical activity, and provide a welcome break from the classroom for children and teachers alike.

While students require support in their physical and mental health, educational facilitators also require school aid in reducing workloads and feeling adequately trained. Schools need to support children and teachers in terms of their wellbeing and mental health to improve overall rates of happiness, motivation, and performance.

By rethinking the functional layouts of educational settings like schools and universities, as well as what goes on within them in terms of values and initiatives, settings can better promote emotional health and physical wellbeing.

To learn more about how Zip Water UK can help support schools, get in touch with our team.