July 13, 2009
Principals around the world prioritize children’s mental health.
Anxiety, depression, bullying, harassment, anger, and impulse control. These are just some of the mental and emotional health issues facing students in schools worldwide today.
A recent survey of more than 1,100 principals from 25 countries revealed that school leaders estimate one in five students requires treatment or other mental health services to help them cope with the issues they face. And more than 80 percent of the principals said that students’ well-being was important to their academic performance.
“Principals want extensive training on how to effectively make their schools positive places for social and emotional learning. They also want them to be places where it is safe and okay for problems to be recognized and addressed,” says EDC’s Cheryl Vince Whitman, who was recently named president of the International Alliance for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Schools (Intercamhs).
The survey was developed by Intercamhs in partnership with the International Confederation of Principals. EDC led the design, administration, and analysis of the survey.
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