Key Summary
- Almost half of primary teachers in England see pupils with eating disorders, survey finds
- The survey was conducted among 10,000 teachers.
- It also found that students experience ‘overwhelming’ exam anxiety and there is rising absenteeism linked to poor mental health.
A survey by the National Education Union (NEU) has highlighted a growing mental health crisis in English state schools, with 78 percent of secondary teachers and 45 percent of primary staff observing signs of eating disorders among their pupils.
The research, which surveyed approximately 10,000 educators, indicates that these issues are becoming increasingly common across all age groups.
While "regular" evidence of eating disorders was noted by 4 percent of primary teachers, this figure rose to 14 percent in secondary schools and reached 20 percent among staff in special schools and pupil referral units.
According to the survey, the secondary class students also experienced high exam anxiety, and there is a paucity of counsellors.
About two-thirds or 68 percent of secondary school teachers claimed that they encountered regular absenteeism owing to students’ mental ill-health.
Three-quarters or 76 percent regularly saw their students experiencing social difficulties, while the number of teachers complaining that their school did not have a counsellor rose from 29 percent to 40 percent in three years.
About 48 percent said they regularly witnessed chronic anxiety among pupils. And almost a third or 31 percent saw students living with social isolation.
Daniel Kebede, the NEU general secretary, said that schools are unable to keep pace with the growing necessity of mental health support needed by young people.
“In many cases, this rules out early and timely intervention for students,” he added.
