Personal Social Health & Economic Education (PSHE) is classed as a non-statutory subject that must be taught in all schools. It provides children with the study of personal well being, including sex and relationship education and drug education. It also includes the study of economic and financial capability.

The Department of Education states that the subject is “an important and necessary part of all pupils education”. They also state that:

 “Schools should seek to use PSHE education to build, where appropriate, on the statutory content already outlined in the national curriculum, the basic school curriculum and in statutory guidance on: drug education, financial education, sex and relationship education (SRE) and the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle.”

The National Curriculum also add that schools must:

“Promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society”.

Although the National Curriculum doesn’t reject the promotion of mental health in schools and education, it is not specifically mentioned to form part of the PSHE specification. With no formal guidelines in place for teaching the issues of mental health, it seems the subject matter is ignored. Meaning children, and even teachers, may not learn the importance and problems surrounding it.