Teachers are witnessing worsening anxiety and mental health issues among children in their classrooms, according to a new survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ninety five percent of staff have witnessed a decline in the mental health of children, according to a survey carried out jointly by The National Association of Headteachers Cymru (NAHT Cymru) and Place2be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NAHT Cymru is calling on the Welsh Government to increase the capacity of social care, health and other services to meet growing demand and to reduce waiting times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For children, the combination of stress to achieve in exams, the return to a normal routine and the social pressures of growing up means going back to school following the pandemic has been tough for many young people across Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kerina Hanson, President of NAHT Cymru says there was no easy solution to addressing young people\u2019s mental health needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a complex picture out there,” she said. “And it\u2019s not going to be solved easily by saying to schools you can have one extra teaching assistant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It\u2019s a long-term issue and I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve seen the worse of it yet. I think things are going to keep building over the next few years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Siobhan Parry, Head of Services for the charity Platform which provides one-to-one support for children and families said: \u201cSince the pandemic young people have missed being around young people and the chance to be young.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n