Empowering Young Minds: Reflections on the Scottish School Tour

Yesterday, I finished the Scottish School Tour at Bertha Park, Perth. Over the past eight months, I have:

• Driven approximately 7,000 miles

• Engaged with around 10,145 young people

Shared my work with the clinical lead psychiatrist from the Scottish Government, who reached out to learn more about my efforts.

Additionally, I have a meeting with the head of education on June 6th to discuss my insights.

Throughout the tour, I met incredible, kind, and respectful individuals of all ages. Its been incredible and I'm sure I've made some friends for life too, It has also filled me with immense happiness and gratitude.

Despite facing doubts at the beginning, my determination to prevent others from becoming unwell kept me going. Persistence has truly been life-changing.

Securing school participation was more difficult than anticipated due to their time constraints. However, only one school declined, stating they didn't see a need for my talks. Initially, responses to my emails and calls were sparse, but with the help of Katy Bald and DYW Tay Cities, connections became easier. I could not have accomplished what I have without them all, so thank you to each and everyone of you I have met along the way.

I aimed to visit a set number of schools but ended up speaking to various year groups in the same schools multiple times across Scotland, adapting to their schedules. My goal was to reach at least 10,000 young people, and I am thrilled to have surpassed that with 10,145.

Schools recognise the importance of this work, seeing the challenges and positive impacts. From these sessions, at least two young people are now receiving inpatient help, and many others are accessing support through CAMHS and other resources.

I start back to my full-time role in student support services on Monday. I am excited to share various insights with the team, as we will ultimately meet many of the young people I have met over the past months when they attend college.

What I have learned so far that will stay with me forever and I just want to share some feedback from school staff (all anonymous), please remember these are from all different schools across Scotland and not one single school. Also, some observations I’ve taken away too.

• The kids are amazing.

  
  

• Love my job as a teacher.

• We love the school and the community; we are all trying to work together to create a safe and happy environment for the young ones.

• Hope there are no more cuts to services as we have many pupils that need support and this looks like its just going to get more rather than less.

• Self -esteem is an issue for lots of our pupils. We do try and work on this within the school.

• Many schools have been struggling with absenteeism.

• A rise in young people suffering with anxiety and this affecting school attendance. Feel this is linked to self-esteem and the school environment rather than academic.

• There seems to be much more need for services with a corresponding decrease in availability of services even within education there have been cuts.

• Post Covid, mental health has definitely seen a deterioration.  Also an expectation that work will be provided online if pupils do not come to school.  Pupils seem less motivated to do things for themselves. In general positive behaviour has decreased and increasing instances of verbal and physical abuse from both parents and pupils.

• Support for anxiety, which is being highlighted by pupils and families quite late. I’d also say that there is a big need for support with relationships and self-esteem.

• Many more pupils are needing additional support for learning with ADHD and ASC traits. Also the standards of numeracy and literacy have dropped significantly affecting attainment levels.

• Young people will always have my utmost respect. They have all treated me with so much dignity, given me their attention, and shown kindness that will always stay with me.

• You can never judge the statistics to accurately represent the children in front of you.

• Yes, there are issues, many of them, but the teachers and staff are doing their best to create a stable, safe, and nurturing environment as best they can.

• There is a bigger issue with absenteeism than before COVID-19, due to many factors. However, some schools are starting to see an increase in attendance, which is great.

• Many parents are working very hard with the schools to help collaborate in the wider communities too.

 Of course, none of this would have been possible without those people who believed in my dream. I will be forever grateful and if there is anyway, I can repay your support and kindness, please let me know.

I also hope you get some of the young people I’ve spoken to come to work with you are they now know the two things I shared with them all from you...

1.     Its ok to make mistakes and fail, however you need to learn from that and move on.

2.    When you come to work you are protected both physically and psychologically under the Health and Safety at Work Act.  Workplaces now appreciate there is no health without mental health.

We all need someone to believe in us, regardless of our age.  We all have so much capability and capacity innately within us, but young people may not realise this yet due to age and life experiences. However, given the right environments, they can thrive and succeed in whatever way that looks.

Signing off one last time with love and gratitude.

Tina x