Latest news with #grit
The Guardian
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
‘Grit' no substitute for extra mental health funding for pupils in England, say experts
Ministers' efforts to promote 'grit' among children are no substitute for better funded mental health support in England's schools, according to school leaders and experts. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, claimed in an article for the Daily Telegraph that more mental health support teams (MHSTs) for schools would 'not only halt the spiral towards crisis but cultivate much-needed grit among the next generation – essential for academic success and life beyond school, with all its ups and downs'. The comments came as Phillipson unveiled £49m to increase the number of MHSTs and make them available to 60% of children in England's state schools by spring 2026. The teams of NHS-trained staff are equipped to provide school-wide and individual support for children with mild-to-moderate mental health issues such as social anxiety. Place2Be, a charity specialising in mental health support for children, said it was seeing record numbers with highly complex needs requiring targeted interventions but who face long wait times for treatment through the NHS's child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs). A spokesperson for the charity said: 'Many pupils in schools have needs going beyond the scope of 'mild to moderate'. So it is vital that these young people, who are also struggling to access CAMHS support, can access high-quality, targeted clinical support at their school which Place2Be provides. 'Rolling out MHSTs to every school is really only one part of the solution, and alone, won't be enough to truly meet the government's manifesto commitment of access to specialist support in every school, nor effectively tackle the mental health difficulties facing young people today.' Labour's 2024 election manifesto pledged that all young people would have access to mental health professionals in schools, which the government says it will meet by the end of the current parliament in 2029-30. Asked what she meant by 'grit' on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Phillipson said young people faced multiple challenges 'thrown' at them that could be eased by MHSTs operating in schools. 'That's about getting in there early when young people are struggling, making sure they've got access to trained, qualified professionals who can help them manage,' Phillipson said. The expansion of MHSTs was welcomed by the teaching unions, including the National Association of Head Teachers and the National Education Union (NEU), although many teachers were sceptical how grit can be developed given efforts by previous governments and conflicting research into its value and whether it can be taught. A review of research conducted for the Education Endowment Fund concluded: 'Some non-cognitive skills including 'grit' and self-control correlate strongly with outcomes but appear to be more akin to stable personality traits rather than to malleable skills.' Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said teachers' top concerns were for reduced waiting times for children to access specialists such as speech and language therapists. 'School staff are also desperate to see government tackle the social issues such as poverty and disadvantage that make life chances so unequal,' Kebede said. Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner for England, will shortly publish her annual report on the state of children's mental health services. Her previous report found that MHSTs dealt with 38,000 cases in 2022-23, with an average wait of 30 days, out of 678,000 children and young people seen by mental health services.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
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.
Times
15-05-2025
- Health
- Times
Schoolchildren will be taught the value of grit, ministers vow
Children will be taught the value of 'grit' in schools to tackle a growing mental health crisis, it has emerged. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, and Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that children needed to be prepared for life's 'ups and downs' in the classroom. The education secretary is pushing to improve attendance rates as figures show that 150,000 pupils are absent more than half of the time. Figures released last week by the Department for Education showed that deteriorating mental health levels are driving record school absences. The Labour government is to introduce a drive to 'tackle anxiety and low mood' in the classroom and will create 'attendance and behaviour hubs' they wrote. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Phillipson and Streeting said: 'By
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Children to be taught to show some ‘grit'
Children will be taught the value of 'grit' to tackle a growing mental health crisis in schools, The Telegraph can reveal. Writing below, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, and Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, say that children need to be prepared for life's 'ups and downs' in the classroom. Deteriorating mental health is driving record school absences, Department for Education data published last week showed, with the knock-on effects having an influence on pupils through to adulthood. Under the government drive to improve mental health in schools, children will be offered sessions to 'tackle anxiety and low mood', with struggling schools receiving extra support through 'attendance and behaviour hubs'. The classroom interventions mark Labour's latest effort to crack down on worklessness, which in part has been fuelled by a surge in mental health problems since the pandemic. Ms Phillipson and Mr Streeting say: '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.' More than a fifth of eight to 16-year-olds had a probable mental health problem in 2023, according to the latest NHS data, an increase of seven percentage points since 2017. Poor mental health has been blamed for school absence levels, which remain near pandemic highs five years on, with more than 20 per cent of children missing at least one day each fortnight last term. 'The worse your mental health, the worse your school attendance and vice versa,' say Ms Phillipson and Mr Streeting, adding that the Government will not sit back and 'dismiss the issue as something that children will grow out of'. The Education and Health Secretaries cite recent government research showing missed school days harmed future career prospects, with frequently absent pupils earning £10,000 less aged 28 compared with their peers with clean attendance records. They also say that helping children while they are at school will help break the 'doom loop' of unaddressed mental health problems that end up costing the NHS millions. Mental health or behavioural conditions now account for almost 45 per cent of disability claims from working-age people. Sir Keir Starmer has promised to clamp down on benefits claims for minor mental health problems in an attempt to reduce the welfare bill and worklessness crisis plaguing the country. Mr Streeting has also been tackling worklessness, saying earlier this year that people on benefits who want to work must be supported to return to employment. He also warned against the 'overdiagnosis' of mental health problems, calling it a 'spectrum' and saying that too many people were being 'written off'. Ministers are also concerned about worsening behaviour problems among children, amid record suspension levels. Teachers in England handed out almost 295,600 suspensions in the spring term of 2023-24, compared with around 263,900 during the same term the year before. Experts have warned that is likely a hangover from disrupted social norms during the pandemic, when children were made to stay at home while schools were shuttered during repeated lockdowns. Under the new measures, the number of specialist mental health support teams will rise from 607 to 713 by March 2026, which will help provide one-on-one support to pupils 'who need it but don't need an NHS referral threshold'. The Government will also recruit new attendance and behaviour ambassadors to 'prevent greater problems mounting up down the line'. Ms Phillipson and Mr Streeting say the measures will tackle the 'triple threat of attendance, behaviour and mental health' and 'supercharge a co-ordinated effort to address the root causes of issues causing disruption and chaos in classrooms'. 'Early interventions in mental health support for young people can have positive ramifications for the rest of their lives,' they say. We will intervene early to help struggling children By Bridget Philipson and Wes Streeting A lot has changed since we left school more than 20 years ago. Children today, who have been brought up in an increasingly digitised 21st century, are facing new and complex challenges in their childhoods that simply didn't exist when we were younger. Negotiating your school days in the face of this is having a serious impact on some children's mental health. It's a problem that has been getting worse in recent years. Around 20 per cent of young people experience some type of mental health issue in any given year, up from 14 per cent in 2017. And this is just the tip of the iceberg – there are likely to be many thousands more struggling with their wellbeing who don't meet the threshold for a clinical diagnosis. Much as it might be tempting to dismiss the issue as something that children will grow out of, the evidence tells a different story. New research published by the Government last week proved the direct, escalating impact that poor mental health has on children's school attendance. The worse your mental health, the worse your school attendance and vice versa. These aren't small effects either. A little absence quickly accumulates devastating impact: pupils missing merely 10 days more than peers have half the odds of achieving good GCSEs. They earn £10,000 less at age 28 on average, compared to pupils with near-perfect attendance. Early interventions in mental health support for young people can have positive ramifications for the rest of their lives. The same is true in lots of different areas of public policy. This Government is embarked on a public service reform agenda focused on intervening early to prevent greater problems mounting up down the line. We know this approach delivers better outcomes for patients and pupils, and better value for taxpayers. It is the key to breaking out of the doom loop where the costs of public services continually rise, while the quality of services declines. As Education Secretary and Health and Social Care Secretary, we are also taking action to improve the mental health of the country's children. We will deliver on our manifesto commitment to get every child who needs it access to mental health support within school – and over the course of this year we will roll that support out to nearly a million extra children. Supporting teachers to identify which children need support. Running group sessions to tackle anxiety and low mood. One-to-one support for those who need it but don't meet an NHS referral threshold. 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. Already on the school attendance front, we are seeing encouraging signs in the months this Government has been in office. Children have clocked up 3.1 million more days in the classroom this year compared with last year. But it is from now that we will see a real step change, as we really start to tackle the triple threat of attendance, behaviour and mental health in a joined-up way. We are following proven methods that work. Led by data and guided by best practice. We are launching innovative new attendance and behaviour hubs, led by the highest-performing schools in the country, that alongside the mental health support teams, will drive the highest standards in how schools get more children in the classroom, engaged in learning. Once at scale, the hubs will provide intensive one-to-one help and advice to 500 schools with significant attendance and behaviour problems, challenging and supporting them to turn this around. A further 4,500 more schools will get support through practical resources and training days. Today we supercharge a co-ordinated effort to address the root causes of issues resulting in disruption and chaos in classrooms. Through our Plan for Change, this Government will give every child the chance to thrive in classrooms where brilliant teachers have the time, tools and support to deliver an outstanding education.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
5 Signs You're Ready To Quit Your Job And Go All In On Your Business
5 Signs You're Ready To Quit Your Job And Go All In On Your Business Quitting your job to become a business owner isn't just brave, it's almost savage. You're about to ditch the paycheck, the corporate ladder, and the office water cooler small talk. This bold move requires more than a fleeting desire. Because after the initial excitement fades, you are faced with plenty of "what now?" moments, doubt, and risk. Before you go up in flames like a burnout bonfire, let's make sure you're not just fantasizing on caffeine and Instagram reels. Here are the five glaring signs that you are absolutely ready to be a business owner. This isn't some 'follow your bliss' fantasy. Having your own business means you will hold the reins, get your hands dirty, and worry about the profit gains and losses. If you've got a six-month safety net of your current salary, congratulations. You're not reckless. You're a planner with grit. You know this entrepreneurial roller coaster doesn't come with a seat belt—or a guaranteed income. Having that stash means you're not going to be begging your old boss for your cubicle back three months in. It gives you breathing room, which means decision-making power. You can go all in without panicking over rent or take-out food. Still living paycheck to paycheck? That's your sign to hit pause, save up, and come back swinging. You know the one. The hobby that started off cute. Maybe a weekend experiment or a side hustle. It's demanding your attention like a screaming toddler on a sugar rush. You're dreaming about it and thinking about it when you are awake, slacking off a bit at work to tinker with it. That's not a hobby anymore. That's a calling in disguise. If the idea of making money doing what you love sets your soul on fire more than the thought of getting another "Employee of the Month" mug, it's time to pay attention. When passion turns persistent, the universe is telling you, 'This is the way.' Fear isn't a stop sign. It's a green light for anyone with guts. Every successful entrepreneur was terrified before they jumped. Fear means you understand what's at stake and are aware of the risks. But if you're still ready to take the big leap, you've already done what most people can only dream of doing. Use fear as a fuel that will drive you to succeed. Don't wait until you feel ready, or you'll be waiting forever. The difference between you and the person still stuck in their cubicle talking about 'someday' is simple: you're willing to move forward, scared. Compared to hobbies, which are usually for fun and leisure, business is a very serious undertaking. If you've crossed that line from 'playing around' to deep-diving into taxes, marketing, branding, and customer funnels like a mad scientist on espresso, you're not just dabbling anymore. You're building. Obsession is not a bad thing when it comes to business. It actually can be your secret weapon. Most people want what business brings: time freedom, money, and control. But they don't think ahead about the work. If you're devouring podcasts, stalking other founders, and watching YouTube tutorials like it's your job, that's the spark. That hunger for knowledge? That's founder energy. You know you are ready to take the leap when every hour at your job feels like a hostage situation. You watch the clock tick slower than dial-up internet. You're mentally checked out. You smile through meetings like a pro and come prepared, but you know you've outgrown being an employee. No, you're not lazy, you are unfulfilled. Your excitement isn't in your inbox anymore. It's in that product you're designing, that service you're shaping, that brand you're dreaming up. You come alive after hours. You light up when you talk about your business idea. That is not a coincidence; that is alignment. And once you feel it, there's no un-feeling it. You can try to ignore it. Or you can make the move. Now that you've got the savings, the obsession, the fire, and even the fear, you ARE ready. Not perfectly ready, nor risk-free ready. Not 'LinkedIn post about your glow-up' ready. But real-life ready. Being ready isn't about having every answer. It's about being willing to get in the ring and take the punches to figure it out. You can keep trading time for a paycheck. Or you can bet on yourself and build something that's yours. Take the leap when your gut won't shut up. Set aside plan B when your dream demands all of you. Because this isn't just about making money, it's about making meaning. And if that wild, ridiculous, obsessive, terrifying dream won't leave you alone, maybe it's because you were never meant to stay comfortable. You were meant to build. Rooting for you!
