I was talking to a good friend yesterday through text and chatting about various things just made me realise something. We’ve both suffered with anxiety/depression and never felt very open about talking to people about what was happening in our life, not at school or in general public either. This is mainly due to our age. Starting high school for me wasn’t the best as some of you may already know, but I never remember this type of subject being spoken about, not in subjects such as Citizenship. Citizenship is a subject that talks about various aspects of life such as friendships, different matters in socializing and bullying etc, it does cover worrying and things like that but that isn’t enough, anyone can worry but there’s a line between worries and anxieties – they can be completely different matters. I honestly think if it was touched on that more young people would feel a lot better about their feelings and it would be much easier to talk to somebody about. I believe that anxiety should be treated the way bullying is, although it can be a sensitive subject, the more we know about it the more we understand it. Peer pressure is difficult for younger people and many people found it hard to accept the reason I was off school, to be honest not even my family or myself knew why I couldn’t go but maybe we would of done if it was spoken about regularly. Another small thing that would help is if websites such as Young Minds were brought up in school so that children would have the opportunity to find out more and get help from the website if needed! They’re currently working in various schools at the moment as 1 in 10 children are diagnosed with a mental health problem in the UK and in the average classroom 3 children will have a mental health problem too. I would love to take this further, be recognised and have somebody important help me bring this to light. Which sounds pretty silly really, I’m just a young girl who has ideas but I don’t think anyone who can make the difference would take notice… Anyway, thanks for reading and let me know what you think!
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Brilliant blog. I am very interested in the subject of emotional wellbeing in schools. In February I am launching I website that encourages schools to support emotional wellbeing and mental health. The website will be a resource for teachers, students and schools. The site will contain many stories from young people who suffered mental illness at school and had both positive and negative experiences. Get in contact if you would like more information.
I totally agree that it needs to be spoken about more at schools. I was very similar to you when I was at high school (I still sorta am) and there was never any real open-ness to talk about things like that. I’ve always had an idea of campaigning for this to change or setting up something to help it change but like you I’m just one girl with an idea.
Thanks for your comment! Well you could campaign in your local area like I’m hoping to do, its just small changes that help
hope you’re well 
Thanks for the reply – thought I’d post a link for you – http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/take-action
Basically a really good charity that wants to end the stigma and secrecy around mental health. Has different ways of getting involved and information on running your own campaign.
Hope this helps
I work at YoungMinds as a parent helpline
Adviser and I too feel that secondary school
Kids should be educated on mental health
why not, I feel kids would be better aware of
the feeling they are experiencing which means
tgey are more likely to ask for help. Funding is what is
Needed!!!
Exactly! Thanks for your comment