Supporting student mental health and wellbeing – Student Voice & Agency

Why:

Children and young people need to believe that they can influence change and that they can take action to create a future that they want. They need to feel that they are being heard and that their contributions are meaningful. In a world full of complex global challenges, this is more than just the ability to choose what book they are reading, or whether to present their ideas as a report or a poem. When students are heard and empowered, they will have hope for their future.

In practice

Six things you can do in the classroom and beyond:

• Learn what matters to your students – ask open-ended questions, engage in robust and generative conversations with them

• Help your students imagine a future that is better than today, create a positive image of the future

• Help your students set goals about what they want to change and identify where they can have some influence

• Help your students identify multiple pathways to get there

• Include their voice in decision-making processes in meaningful ways and create compelling opportunities to act

• Help students identify what actions they can take to take them closer to the future they want

Next steps:

If these ideas interest you and you would like to learn more, please contact us. We can help with workshops and webinars, professional development days, coaching, and consultancy engagements.