As stated in my last post, 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age. 

This statistic sums up the reason for my project. Attention and help for mental health is not provided or made aware as much as it should be, especially to children and young people.

This is highlighted in the National Curriculum, where mental health is not particularly taught as part of the education specification.

Along with the National Curriculum framework, the Department of Education published guidance on PSHE education, stating 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.’

They do not state anything about teaching mental health education in the guidelines, which is the reason for my campaign video to get it introduced.

Although a recent petition has already been made for mental health education, it was unsuccessful, only raising half of the required signatures to be considered for debate in Parliament www.petition.parliament.uk/petitions/104545. There has also been many, many articles discussing the issue but there has been no significant progress to improving the situation.

My petition will hopefully gain national interest and support, getting more signatures because of the engaging, good quality campaign I will produce and market.