As the government strives for a more inclusive education policy, more and more teachers find themselves in the frontline when dealing with children with mental health problems. Many have not had training in such matters and so feel unprepared and uncertain when faced with difficult situations.
The Mental Health Handbook for Schools provides valuable information on a comprehensive range of mental health problems with which teachers are often confronted.
Drawing on up-to-date research and practice in these areas the book considers what schools can do, within the special needs framework, to help pupils with these problems. It usefully reflects on the role of the mental health services in relation to schools and how schools can adopt a whole-school preventative approach to mental health problems.
The authors address an extensive range of mental health problems including Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, eating disorders, substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorders and schizophrenia. They also cover situations that can often lead to the development of mental health problems including bullying, divorce and marital conflict, bereavement and physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

Reviews

'... useful reading for the non-specialist teacher. Even where a problem is clearly intractable ... the authors are able to offer encouraging and positive advice.' - Gerald Haigh, Times Educational Supplement

'SENCOs will find lots of useful information in this handbook, and will want to make it available to many other school staff working with children who have mental health needs, whether they have special educational needs or not.' - SENCO Update

Winner of the TES/ NASEN Academic Book Award 2002'The Academic Book Award panel welcomed Mary Atkinson and Garry Hornby's survey, ranging from suicidal behaviour and anxiety disorders to the more familiar territory of bullying and bereavement, with suggesttions for promoting whole school mental health.'Judges' comment:'An excellent study of the range of childhood and adolescent mental health and the circumstances that lead to them ... Of interest to a wide readership and especially useful for school counsellors as well as classroom teachers.'

'Here is a book that helps to bridge the divide between mental health and education ... [It] is a useful guide for practising teachers to dip into. It will also inform aspects of whole school development, both policy and practice. Special needs co-ordinators, educational psychologists, behaviour support teachers and educational welfare officers, along with many other professionals, will also find the handbook a welcome addition to their reference library. A book such as this is long overdue and I throughly recommend it.' - Christine Markham, Special Children

'Atkinson and Hornby have successfully bridged the divide between mental health and education in producing this practical and accessible handbook. The handbook provides a valuable and rare resource for teachers and other educational professionals.' - Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

'Useful reading for the non-specialist teacher. Even where a problem is clearly intractable ... the authors are able to offer encouraging and positive advice.' - Gerald Haigh, Times Educational Supplement

'An excellent study of the range of childhood and adolescent mental health and the circumstances that lead to them ... Of interest to a wide readership and especially useful for school counsellors as well as classroom teachers.' Judges' comment - Winner of the TES/ NASEN Academic Book Award 2002

Book Information
ISBN 9780415208291
Author Mary Atkinson
Format Paperback
Page Count 294
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 635g