As part of our GCSE Citizenship campaign, we have decided to raise awareness of the interconnectivity of mental health conditions effecting teenagers - particularly regarding the intersection with their development and maturation. In order to do this we have decided to lobby our school (John of Gaunt), the wider education establishment and it's providers to consider the mental health of students when making decisions to change their learning and provide a new, accessible system of support and counselling services.

Since the introduction of the new curriculum and examination structures seven years ago and four years ago respectively, we have seen a rise in the amounts of mental health conditions amongst school students induced by exam stress and anxiety. With school meant to be a place of nurturing and learning, it seems counterintuitive to place such great stresses upon young people already at battle with a mental health epidemic, causing worsening to this.

Despite many calls from experts, health professionals, teaching unions and, most importantly, young people themselves for education reform and support, there continues to be an ignorance displayed towards this section of society - with them being cast aside for mental health support and guidance. We call upon those in power to stop the additional workloads being placed on young people as to benefit their mental wellbeing and for them to provide adequate access to counselling and support services on campus, to replace the subpar and few-and-far-between CAMHS sessions provided currently. 

Mental health is not a sole issue that is caused by a single thing but, from our own personal experiences, we know that school can have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of a person and this aspect cannot be neglected. The intersection between rise in mental health conditions amongst students combined with increased workload and expectation, alongside a lack of pastoral support base and trained support displays the shear challenge that the education system is posing to our future generation and we believe that this is an issue that needs to be discussed, considered and acted upon. We can no longer afford to wait when lives are at stake: it is the responsibility of school leadership and government officials to respond to cries for pupils and implement the reform needed to make school a safe and productive environment for all.