Stop asking young people how they are feeling

There is a growing trend of schools using a range of check-in apps to ‘support young people’s mental wellbeing’. This may be well-meaning but is it a good thing? Is it effective? Is there evidence that it works and perhaps, more importantly, is there evidence that it may  inadvertently make matters worse in some cases?

Lucy Foulkes is a psychologist at Oxford University who specialises in how schools approach student mental health. Her work finds evidence that school-based interventions lead to an increase in internalising symptoms and an increase in depressive symptoms. In other words, there is some evidence that these interventions make students who are mentally well feel less well. 

Sometimes solutions need to be more subtle. 

Schools are first and foremost places of learning. Of course, pastoral work is essential. Good pastoral support is often a pre-requisite for learning I taught in some of the most deprived communities in the UK. I have seen the impact that precarity and complexity has on young people. But pastoral work is not and should not be therapy. Teachers are not therapists. 

We have an opportunity to focus more on educating for wellness rather than assuming unwellness and putting unproven provisions in place. 

Sustainable wellbeing is the result of finding a balance between purpose and enjoyment. This, in turn, fosters a sense of belonging where young people feel safe and valued, where they can thrive. 

My former headteacher said to me - ‘When these kids are 35 they’re not going to remember one of my Maths lessons. They will remember the sports fixtures, the trips, the drama productions and the debates.’ These activities have long been recognised as more than mere memory makers. Engagement makes the school experience fulfilling, joyful,exciting and fosters a place of belonging.

At miMove, our current upgrade allows students to journal all the enrichment activities they engage in away from the classroom and how they feel about these experiences. Schools can easily view this data and our new AI copilot, Mo, will give you the reports you want in seconds allowing you to celebrate those young people who are finding their passions and, more importantly, help those who are yet to do so. The participation patterns and emotional responses give a brilliant indication of mental wellbeing without having to ask regularly and directly. 

If you care about all your students being mentally and physically well, if you want them all to flourish, reach out to find out more about our powerful, time saving, cost effective solutions.