Reducing mental health stigma

This guide from Education Support offers a large range of tips, advice and suggestions to help challenge stigma and promote an inclusive, supporting environment for staff.

As outlined in the guide, stigma around mental health is one of the key barriers preventing teachers and school staff from asking for help. Over half of education professionals do not feel able to share their mental health concerns with their employer.

Education Support has identified a number of key actions that staff can take to reduce the stigma around mental health, including:

• making a public commitment to tackling mental health stigma
• dispelling any misconceptions and encouraging conversations around mental health
• producing, implementing and communicating a mental health at work plan.

The guide also includes a section with details about further reading and practical resources for staff to use.

Using this resource

This resource is designed for:

• use by mental health leads working with students aged 5 to 19+.

Learning outcomes

This resource addresses the following learning outcomes:

• Create a plan to develop, implement and sustain a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing, tailored to their setting’s needs.
• Put in place strategies to identify, understand and overcome resistance, and bring key stakeholders with them.