Newsbites – Counselling, Mental Health & more

Newsbites – DfE, Teenage Boys & More

News/guidance/policy

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DfE guidance: Counselling in schools

17 February, 2016

Departmental advice for schools about setting up and improving counselling services for pupils. Updated with new resources and guidance, including an additional section on vulnerable children in the section ‘Counselling in practice’.

DfE open consultation: Child Safety Online: Age Verification for Pornography

16 February, 2016

This consultation is seeking views on protecting children from seeing pornographic material online.

DfE open consultation: Children and young people’s mental health: peer support

17 February, 2016

The DfE is seeking views on the most effective support methods to help improve the mental health of children and young people

DfE press release: £1.5 million to help young people spot signs of mental illness

17 February, 2016

Young people urged to help the government shape new peer support networks so they can talk openly about mental health.

Schools Week: Cuts to mental health services mean schools do more in-house

14 February, 2016

Schools Week is reporting that self-harm, exam stress, insomnia, and eating disorders are the main problems affecting young people today, professionals say

Telegraph: Teenage boys are increasingly worried about their body image, research finds

15 February, 2016

The Telegraph is reporting that a third of boys have admitted to dieting as a new report reveals body image issues is one of the most worrying aspects of life for young people today

The Mail: Increase in teenage girls poisoning themselves as form of self-harm

15 February, 2016

The Mail is reporting that doctors have warned of soaring numbers of teenage girls deliberately poisoning themselves as a type of self-harm

Research and good practice/statistics

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OECD report: Low Performing Students- Why They Fall Behind and How to Help Them Succeed

10 February, 2016

OECD has published a new report on low performing students which concludes that most countries have made little progress helping their weakest students improve their performance in reading, mathematics and science over the past decade.

The Conversation: Which countries must do more to help children who fall behind at school?

11 February, 2016

Dr Gijsbert Stoet, writing in the Conversation, reviews the new report from the OECD which compares the level of attainment of 15 year olds across the world