We All Have Mental Health

Download the accompanying teacher toolkit from https://www.annafreud.org/wahmhtoolkit It's free!We All Have Mental Health is an animation designed to give yo...

Information from the Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0 to 25 years

6.32 Children and young people may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties which manifest themselves in many ways. These may include becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as displaying challenging, disruptive or disturbing behaviour. These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained. Other children and young people may have disorders such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder or attachment disorder.

How is this need identified?

Children and young people may experience a wide range of social and emotional difficulties. You may see them becoming withdrawn or isolated, as well as displaying challenging, disruptive or distressing behaviour. These behaviours may reflect underlying mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, self-harming, substance misuse, eating disorders or physical symptoms that are medically unexplained. Other children and young people may have disorders such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder or attachment disorder.

Children and young people with SEMH difficulties may display passive behaviours such as:

Anxiety

Low mood

Being withdrawn

Avoiding risks

Unable to make choices

Low self-worth

Isolated

Refusing to accept praise

Failure to engage

Poor personal presentation

Lethargy/apathy

Daydreaming

Unable to make and maintain friendships

Speech anxiety/ reluctance to speak

Task avoidance

 

Children and young people with SEMH difficulties may display active behaviours such as:

Challenging behaviours

Restlessness/over-activity

Non-compliance

Mood swings

Impulsivity

Physical aggression

Verbal aggression

Perceived injustices

Disproportionate reactions to situations

Difficulties with change/transitions

Absconding

Eating issues

Lack of empathy

Lack of personal boundaries

Poor awareness of personal space