Schoolchildren to be taught to develop 'grit' that prepares them for 'life's ups and downs' in government drive to cut mental health problems
Schoolchildren will be taught to develop 'grit' to overcome the pressure of life's 'ups and downs' as part of a mental health drive in schools, ministers have said.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson and Health Secretary Wes Streeting made the vow as they unveiled a new push to reduce absences caused by poor mental health.
NHS data for 2023 suggested almost a quarter (23.3 per cent) of children had a probable mental disorder, such as anxiety or depression, up from 19 per cent the year prior.
And the absences have a knock-on effect into adulthood, affecting earnings and job prospects.
Figures suggest frequent absentees earn £10,000 a year less than their peers by the time they are 28.
Under government plans, all pupils will have access to mental health support in school by the end of the decade, with six in ten pupils having access to a mental health support team by March 2026.
Writing in the Telegraph today the ministers suggested that toughening up kids to face life would form part of the plan, and they would not dismiss it as 'something children will grow out of.
'By deploying NHS-led, evidence-based intervention during children's formative years, we will not only halt the spiral towards crisis but cultivate much-needed grit amongst the next generation – essential for academic success and life beyond school, with all its ups and downs,' they wrote.
Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: There has been a growing crisis in the mental health of children and young people in recent years, with too many people having to wait too long to get the help they need.
'It is reassuring that the government recognises this problem, as well as the impact it is having in schools, and that mental health support will be available to significantly more pupils over the next year.
This week Childline reported a rise in the number of callers with 'anger issues' amid 'growing emotional challenges' among youngsters today.
The charity said it provided 2,895 counselling sessions for children with anger in 2024/25, a six per cent increase on the previous year.
Anger issues ranked among the top ten mental health concerns reported by children contacting the service – among boys it was sixth and among girls it was tenth.
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