Children with mental health problems should have 'safe haven', teachers say

Every school should build a “well-being centre” where children suffering from mental health problems can seek refuge, teachers said today.

Bella Hewes, a former school counsellor from Oxfordshire, called for “safe havens” to be introduced to all secondary schools so vulnerable children can go there to feel safe.

Speaking ahead of the ATL conference in Liverpool she also called for school counsellors and nurses to be employed in every school to work with the growing numbers of children with mental health problems.

It comes after a survey of 850 teachers by the ATL union found that teachers are seeing more pupils in the classroom with mental health issues.

Half of teachers said they have seen an increase in youngsters dealing with difficulties such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, hyperactivity, eating disorders, substance misuse and self-harm than they did two years ago, while around 60 per cent have seen a rise compared with five or ten years ago.

Mrs Hewes told the Standard: “I have worked for over 40 years in mainstream schools and can say that a suite of rooms would be in constant use.

"Every day one child or another - up to 12 a day - has a crisis at home and is distressed or angry.”

She added: “By ‘safe haven’ I mean a physical space at school where a child can feel 100 per cent safe.

"This could be outside in the school grounds but is more likely to be somewhere inside the school building, a welcoming room, a corner of the school library, a small chapel, a school counsellor’s room or where staff hang out at break and lunchtime in a Special Needs area.”