New mental health guide launched for schools and colleges in Sussex

A new resource aimed at strengthening mental health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges has been launched by researchers at the University of Sussex.

The free online guide is intended to help governors and trustees assess how effectively their schools are supporting pupils, students and staff.

It has been developed by the University of Sussex and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, with support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

The guide comes amid continuing concern about mental health among children and young people.

Government figures show around one in five pupils in England are persistently absent from school, while NHS data published in 2023 indicated around one in five children and young people had a probable mental disorder.

Researchers behind the project say governing bodies can play an important role in making mental health and wellbeing part of a school's wider strategy rather than treating it as a separate issue.

The resource is based around the Department for Education's Whole School and College Approach, which encourages schools to consider wellbeing across areas including leadership, school culture, teaching, staff support and engagement with families.

Dr Kathryn Lester, from the University of Sussex, said:

"When we looked at how well schools were implementing a whole school approach to mental health, we identified a significant gap in support for governors and trustees, who are often volunteers navigating complex territory without clear guidance. This resource gives them exactly that, with practical tools to move from good intentions around wellbeing to measurable impact."

The guide includes suggested questions for governing boards to ask about staff wellbeing, pupil voice, parental engagement and how schools identify children who may need additional support.

It also links to a free online measurement toolkit which allows schools and colleges to assess how well their approach to wellbeing is being implemented and whether it is producing results.

The toolkit was developed by the University of Sussex, Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Surrey and the Charlie Waller Trust.

Schools are encouraged to begin by gathering feedback from pupils, staff and families before agreeing how progress will be measured.

The guidance then recommends setting two or three realistic wellbeing priorities for the academic year and regularly reviewing progress at governing board level.

Governors Mental Health Toolkit

Becca Randell, Associate Director at Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, said: “Governors and trustees have a crucial role in supporting a whole school and college approach to mental health and wellbeing. This innovative resource gives governing boards practical tools to strengthen their oversight of wellbeing and measure the impact of their efforts, helping to create healthier environments for pupils, students and staff.”

Fiona Collier, Governance Consultancy Team Lead at The National Association of Governance Advisory Services, said: “NAGAS is pleased to have contributed to the development of this valuable resource, which we believe will provide practical support to governing boards in strengthening their understanding of a whole school and college approach to wellbeing. The guide has the potential to be a highly useful tool in supporting informed, strategic oversight in this important area.”

Emma Hawker, Programme Development Manager at Boards for Education, said: “Governors and trustees play a vital role in championing cultures of wellbeing. By placing wellbeing at the heart of strategic leadership, schools can better support pupils, staff and wider communities, strengthening outcomes and resilience across all settings. Boards for Education are delighted that these materials provide a clear foundation on which boards can build their approach to wellbeing.”

The authors hope the guide will be used by schools and colleges as they plan their mental health and wellbeing priorities for the 2026-27 academic year.

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