A student’s mental health is integral to their long-term success and overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, many families across the UK are noticing that children are feeling increasingly anxious or under pressure with schoolwork and exams. Yet there’s encouraging progress too. Growing awareness and early-intervention efforts in schools are showing how the right support can make a real difference.
Recent findings from the mental health charity Mind paint a concerning picture. It found that around half of young people say their mental health has directly affected their school attendance. This means that the emotional challenges that children face aren’t just impacting their mood or motivation; they’re having a tangible effect on their education and daily lives. While these numbers are worrying, they also highlight just how much we now understand about what children need, and that means families and schools can take clear, evidence‑based steps to improve wellbeing.
With growing awareness from teachers and parents, the challenge now is finding the right balance between academic achievement and emotional wellbeing. The goal isn’t about choosing one over the other but about creating environments where learning and mental health reinforce each other. Children will do their best when they feel safe.
In this blog, we’ll provide some student mental health tips, and explore the latest research and statistics in this area.
How poor mental health impacts learning
Mental health plays a massive role in how well children and young people engage with their education. When students are struggling emotionally, it can affect everything from their concentration to their confidence in the classroom.
Poor student mental health can lead to:
- Increased stress that can impact sleep negatively
- Inability to focus
- Lack of motivation to engage
- Aggressiveness and anti-social behaviour
- Decrease in confidence and self-esteem
- Feelings of low mood
- Avoidant behaviour, leading to skipping school
The good news is that, with early support, these challenges can be turned around. Most children can respond quickly once their emotional needs are recognised and the difference can be staggering. Getting them the support they need is crucial to helping them improve their wellbeing.
How to have conversations with young people around mental health
Encouraging children to talk about their worries from an early age can make a big difference to how they cope with challenges later. Research shows that open conversations help reduce stress and can prevent minor concerns from escalating.
Both teachers and parents play a key role here. By openly sharing their own challenges and coping strategies, they show children that it’s normal to have ups and downs and that talking about them is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Remind children that it’s okay to struggle and that asking for help is a positive step forward. Reach out towards age-appropriate mental health charities and resources. For example:
- YoungMinds – information, self-help tools, and stories from other young people as well as helplines for parents
- The Mix – support for under-25s on mental health, relationships and everyday challenges
- Anna Freud Centre – guides for children, parents, schools and teachers on promoting wellbeing
- Kooth – free, online counselling and peer support for young people
- Mind – advice and resources for managing stress and emotions
- NHS mental health services – support for young people experiencing mental health issues. Be aware that there is a wait list, so the earlier you reach out, the better.
How families and schools can help support mental health
Everyone can make a positive difference, whether you’re a friend, family member or teacher. Tackling poor mental health among students isn’t something families or schools can do in isolation. It works best when everyone is informed, connected, and proactive. The good news is that small, consistent steps can make a real difference to a child’s wellbeing and outlook at school.
Here are some simple but effective ways to provide support:
1. Keep communication open
Encourage children to talk about how they’re feeling and what school is like for them. Regular, honest conversations help children feel heard and supported and make it easier to spot when something’s off.
2. Create balance
Schoolwork is essential but so is having time to relax. Help your child enjoy downtime after lessons, make sure they spend time with friends, and get enough rest and sleep to recharge.
3. Identify early signs
Don’t wait for things to escalate before acting. Even small changes in mood or behaviour can signal that something’s wrong. If you’re worried, reach out for help and advice. Mental health charities such as YoungMinds and Mind offer great practical tips for parents and carers. Above all, keep talking to your child.
4. Inform your child’s teachers or school
Sometimes, a trusted adult outside the family can make a huge difference. Regular check-ins by a teacher, mentor, or mental health first aider can help children feel less isolated.
5. Take off the pressure
It’s natural to want your child to do well academically, but too much pressure can do more harm than good. Focus on acknowledging their effort rather than just their results.
6. Get extra support where needed
If your child is struggling with certain subjects or feeling anxious about specific areas of school, extra help can really boost their confidence. Following these student mental health tips is a great start, but you can also reach out to online education services, such as TLC LIVE, can provide targeted academic support, with more flexible schooling options that can benefit children who find traditional settings challenging.
Every supportive conversation or small adjustment can help contribute to a positive cycle where children feel more confident and motivated to learn.
What the student mental health statistics show
The latest figures on mental health in schools across the UK highlight just how widespread and complex the issue has become. Behind every statistic is a young person trying to balance the demands of school, friendships, and growing up in an increasingly pressurised world.
Looking closer at the data helps us understand where support is most needed and how schools, families, and communities can work together to make a difference.
The NHS’s most recent Digital Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 survey (with the next wave in progress) found that:
- Around one in five children (20.3%) aged 8 to 16 had a probable mental disorder, with a further 12% showing signs of a possible mental disorder.
- Children aged 11 to 16 with a probable mental disorder were five times more likely to have been bullied in person (36.9% compared with 7.6% among those unlikely to have a probable mental disorder).
Inequalities also play a significant role. Mind’s 2025 report found that:
- Of those children from the least well-off 20% of households, they are four times more likely to experience serious mental health difficulties, highlighting how socioeconomic factors can profoundly affect emotional wellbeing.
- In addition, 2.6% of 11 to 16-year-olds were identified as having eating disorders, with the prevalence four times higher among girls (4.3%) than boys (1%).
When it comes to school and exams, the numbers are equally stark. The Children’s Society’s 2025 household survey reported that:
- School is the area of life children and young people are most unhappy with. About one in nine (11.1%) said they were not content with their school experience.
- The same survey found that the biggest concern for young people and children regarding their future was getting good grades, with 43% of children and young people ‘very’ or ‘quite’ worried about this.
Findings from YoungMinds further underline the intense pressure students face:
- Among 15- to 18-year-olds, 63% said they struggled to cope during GCSE and A-level exam periods.
- Of those, 15% of those stopped going to school, 13% experienced suicidal thoughts, 13% self-harmed, and over half (56%) had trouble sleeping.
- Even younger students are not immune – 56% of 10- and 11-year-olds said doing SATs was the first time they really worried about their abilities, while 28% said SATs made them feel bad about themselves, and 35% said the tests made them feel ill.
These figures reveal that for many young people, academic life and mental health are becoming deeply intertwined. As awareness grows, understanding the statistics is a vital step towards supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools.
Across the UK, many schools have begun introducing wellbeing programmes, mindfulness sessions and dedicated pastoral support. These are signals that awareness is already turning into action.
At TLC LIVE, for example, we have ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ where we take time for pupils to break from their academic work and focus on their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. This helps provide a supportive environment for children and teenagers, and helps them regulate their emotions as well as giving them the space to prioritise their wellbeing.
Finding the balance
Years of research show that when emotional wellbeing is prioritised, academic progress follows naturally. For example, a study from 2023 found that when schools actively prioritise and promote wellbeing, they see improved engagement and learning outcomes. Similarly, a UK Parliament research briefing released earlier this year highlighted how positive wellbeing supports children’s ability to settle, focus and thrive in school.
The message is clear; good mental health is the foundation for effective learning and long-term success. With open conversations and supportive environments at home and in school, every child can find a healthier balance between learning success and wellbeing.
For families looking for extra support, get in touch with TLC LIVE to discuss private tutoring to boost confidence in specific subjects or explore more flexible learning opportunities through our Online School.
By Ryan Lockett, Headteacher of TLC LIVE’s Online School