Life Based Learning
Delivering subject content through nine life themes
Category: Mental Health
Opportunities to swim
Recently published figures on life expectancy, healthy life expectancy and adult activity levels reveal stark and shocking inequalities across the nation. We have been blogging recently about the need to rethink how we tackle obesity. And however unwelcome the thought is at a time… Continue Reading “Opportunities to swim”
Children’s mental health services in crisis
A survey of 1,001 GPs across the UK who have sought urgent help for under-18s with mental health problems indicates that children’s mental health services have deteriorated over the past six years. 95% of the GPs surveyed said that mental health services for children… Continue Reading “Children’s mental health services in crisis”
Fund rather than cut adventure play
Earlier this month Play England published research showing that at least 21 adventure playgrounds have been lost across England – roughly 15% of the total – in the last five years. Many more have suffered severe cuts in funding. Adventure play and adventure playgrounds… Continue Reading “Fund rather than cut adventure play”
New report warns of alarming decline in girls’ participation in sport as they reach puberty
New research indicates that nearly half of all girls may be disengaging from sport when they enter their teenage years. The Women in Sport charity calls them ‘the lost 43%’. It says that it is “deeply concerned by the number of girls who disengage… Continue Reading “New report warns of alarming decline in girls’ participation in sport as they reach puberty”
Prince’s Trust warns of downward spiral of anxiety and lack of confidence affecting young people
The Prince’s Trust has warned about the state of young people’s mental wellbeing, including low levels of confidence about the future and high levels of anxiety and feelings of burnout. It adds to a growing body of evidence about the lasting impact of the… Continue Reading “Prince’s Trust warns of downward spiral of anxiety and lack of confidence affecting young people”
Raising our level of ambition to support young people’s mental health
The footballer (now football manager) Wayne Rooney is 36 years of age. He was playing in the Premiership when he was just 16. In a new documentary he has described his long-term struggle with mental health problems and how, not very long ago, it… Continue Reading “Raising our level of ambition to support young people’s mental health”
Sir David shows that plants are just as interesting as animals
The Green Planet, the latest Sir David Attenborough-fronted natural history series on the BBC, has earned rave reviews — well, at least as far as the production and presentation are concerned. The visuals are (as ever) stunning and Sir David is a national treasure,… Continue Reading “Sir David shows that plants are just as interesting as animals”
Landmark research puts a monetary value on the benefits of woodland visits
The benefits of woodland visits
Adventurous play helps children learn resilience and how to assess risk
“If we want children to be prepared for risk, we need to allow them to come into contact with risk.” So says Prof Rolf Schwarz of Karlsruhe University of Education in a recent newspaper article on how Germany is leading the way in an… Continue Reading “Adventurous play helps children learn resilience and how to assess risk”
In praise of the young people aiming to spark a conversation around mental health
The evidence of a mental health crisis, particularly affecting young people, continues to mount. A recent report from NHS Digital indicates that rates of probable mental disorders among 6- to 16-year-olds are now as high as one in six and have yet to come… Continue Reading “In praise of the young people aiming to spark a conversation around mental health”