Make Mind Lessons Compulsory in UK Schools – Protect Our Children’s Future
The Issue
Our children are in crisis. Right now, in classrooms across the country, young minds are breaking under the weight of emotions they were never taught to handle. Anxiety, depression, self-harm, and violence are rising at alarming rates, and we stand by, watching—hoping things will get better.
But hope is not a strategy. Action is.
I am Louise Slattery, an award-winning therapist, coach, and founder of Musketeers Charity. I have worked with children who lash out, not because they are bad, but because they are lost. I have sat with parents whose children have harmed themselves, not because they wanted to die, but because they didn’t know how to cope with living.
We teach our children algebra, Shakespeare, and the periodic table—but we do not teach them how to handle anger, fear, or self-doubt. We do not teach them how to regulate their emotions, resolve conflicts, or build the resilience needed to navigate an increasingly complex world.
And then we wonder why mental health services are overwhelmed. We wonder why school violence is rising. We wonder why children are screaming for help in the only way they know how.
I have written to the Prime Minister. I have written to the King. But my call for change has been met with silence.
So now, I turn to you.
I am calling for Mind Lessons to be made a compulsory part of the UK curriculum.
Not as an afterthought. Not as an optional extra. But as a core subject—because emotional intelligence is just as essential as literacy and maths.
- Studies show that 50% of lifelong mental health conditions begin before the age of 14.
- Emotional education has been proven to reduce violence, improve academic performance, and lower rates of anxiety and depression.
- Countries that prioritise emotional intelligence in schools report higher levels of well-being and lower levels of youth crime.
We cannot afford to wait any longer. This is not just about education; it is about saving lives.
If you believe that every child deserves the chance to grow up with the emotional tools to succeed, sign this petition today.
Together, we can make this a reality. Together, we can ensure that no more children suffer in silence. Together, we can change the future.
Sign. Share. Speak up.
The time for action is now
2,415
The Issue
Our children are in crisis. Right now, in classrooms across the country, young minds are breaking under the weight of emotions they were never taught to handle. Anxiety, depression, self-harm, and violence are rising at alarming rates, and we stand by, watching—hoping things will get better.
But hope is not a strategy. Action is.
I am Louise Slattery, an award-winning therapist, coach, and founder of Musketeers Charity. I have worked with children who lash out, not because they are bad, but because they are lost. I have sat with parents whose children have harmed themselves, not because they wanted to die, but because they didn’t know how to cope with living.
We teach our children algebra, Shakespeare, and the periodic table—but we do not teach them how to handle anger, fear, or self-doubt. We do not teach them how to regulate their emotions, resolve conflicts, or build the resilience needed to navigate an increasingly complex world.
And then we wonder why mental health services are overwhelmed. We wonder why school violence is rising. We wonder why children are screaming for help in the only way they know how.
I have written to the Prime Minister. I have written to the King. But my call for change has been met with silence.
So now, I turn to you.
I am calling for Mind Lessons to be made a compulsory part of the UK curriculum.
Not as an afterthought. Not as an optional extra. But as a core subject—because emotional intelligence is just as essential as literacy and maths.
- Studies show that 50% of lifelong mental health conditions begin before the age of 14.
- Emotional education has been proven to reduce violence, improve academic performance, and lower rates of anxiety and depression.
- Countries that prioritise emotional intelligence in schools report higher levels of well-being and lower levels of youth crime.
We cannot afford to wait any longer. This is not just about education; it is about saving lives.
If you believe that every child deserves the chance to grow up with the emotional tools to succeed, sign this petition today.
Together, we can make this a reality. Together, we can ensure that no more children suffer in silence. Together, we can change the future.
Sign. Share. Speak up.
The time for action is now
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Petition created on 4 March 2025