UK Teachers to be Trained in Early Detection of Mental Health Problems

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Category: Education/Family

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. get out of hand / gɛt aʊt ʌv hænd / (idiom) – to become difficult to manage
    Example:

    Fights between students should be stopped before they get out of hand.


  2. tackle / ˈtæk əl / (v) – to deal with a problem
    Example:

    The government is trying to tackle high unemployment.


  3. partake / pɑrˈteɪk / (v) – to participate in something
    Example:

    High-profile celebrities were invited to partake in the museum’s charity event.


  4. unconvinced / ʌn kənˈvɪnst / (adj) – unsure whether something should be trusted
    Example:

    She is unconvinced that her company’s partnership with the organization will work.


  5. adolescent / ˌæd lˈɛs ənt / (n) – a young girl or boy who is about to become an adult
    Example:

    Adolescents want independence, but they still need their parents’ guidance.


Article

Read the text below.

Teachers in England and Wales will undergo training designed to help them recognize the early signs of mental health problems among students.


The training is part of UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s initiatives aimed to prevent mental health problems before they get out of hand. It will give teachers guidelines on how to spot students with mental health issues, how to deal with depression and anxiety, and how to assess mental wellbeing. The initiative is already implemented among secondary school teachers and will soon be available to new teachers.


May said that tackling mental health problems has always been her priority. She also believes that prevention is the key to lessening the consequences of mental health issues.


Aside from teachers, May has invited all 1.2 million National Healthcare Service staff to partake in training related to mental health illness prevention. Then, in October, the Prime Minister is also set to launch Every Mind Matters, a campaign which aims to raise public awareness about mental health.


Despite May’s actions, UK Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Social Care Barbara Keeley is unconvinced that the initiative will work. She said that instead of giving teacher training, May should be focusing on programs that make mental health services more accessible. This is due to issues like children and adolescents failing to receive mental health services or waiting a long time to get treatment.


On the other hand, a CEO of a mental health charity praised May’s plans, saying that it was a good idea to prioritize young people’s mental health as many mental health problems begin during childhood.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you agree that many mental health problems start in childhood? Why or why not?
• Do you think the training will be effective in addressing mental health issues among young people? Discuss.

Discussion B

• Do you think that students’ mental health problems should be the responsibility of teachers? Why or why not?
• Do you think initiatives like this will affect the mental health of teachers? Explain.