Working towards mentally healthy schools and FE colleges: the voice of students

Between November 2020 and January 2021, the Anna Freud Centre surveyed 3,298 young people aged between 11 and 19, asking them about factors relating to their mental health and wellbeing.

The purpose of the survey was to hear the views of children and young people with regards to mental health in secondary schools and further education (FE) colleges.

The survey found that:

• young people said that the three most important mental health-related topics to learn about in school are depression & anxiety, body image and identity
• the top three factors that had a positive impact on young people's mental health were friendships, family and relationships
• the top three factors that had a negative impact were school work, exams and family

Using this resource

This resource is designed for:

• use by senior staff in schools and FE settings