health
Almost half of primary teachers in England see pupils with eating disorders, survey finds
Poll of 10,000 teachers also finds ‘overwhelming’ exam anxiety and rising absenteeism linked to poor mental health
TL;DR
- 45% of primary teachers and 78% of secondary teachers have witnessed pupils with eating disorders at least occasionally.
- Regular observation of eating disorders is reported by 4% of primary teachers and 14% of secondary teachers.
- 68% of secondary teachers encounter absenteeism linked to students' mental ill-health.
- 76% of secondary teachers regularly see students experiencing social difficulties.
- The proportion of teachers reporting their school lacks a counselor has risen from 29% to 40% in three years.
- A Lancet study noted a 65% increase in hospital admissions for mental health concerns in children and young people between 2012-13 and 2021-22.
- Hospital admissions for eating disorders among children and young people increased by 515% over the same period.
- 48% of responding teachers witness chronic anxiety among pupils regularly.
- 31% of responding teachers see students living with social isolation.
- Teachers are demanding more nurses, mental health leads, and quicker access to child and adolescent mental health services.