If you feel like your school is balancing on a tightrope between academic results and mental wellbeing, you’re not alone. 

In 2025 the conversation has finally shifted: kids are struggling with anxiety, teachers are burning out, and policymakers are (at long last) taking wellbeing seriously. 

Illinois even plans to make mental health screenings mandatory for pupils in grades 3–12, starting in the 2027‑28 school year.

It might be a small but significant sign that wellbeing is finally being looked at not as a “nice to have” but as an essential part of schooling.

However, “universal screenings aren’t enough” – chant the parents and teachers in the comments of a social media post sharing the news, unhappy with the lack of details provided. 

And we quite agree as these are important details. 

Who will come up with the methodology for the tests? What will schools and the government do with the results? – are only some of the questions that people jot down in the comments. 

Wellbeing is a great thing to have in our schools but the way we deliver it matters, too! 

So, what are the most common wellbeing challenges schools face in trying to implement and deliver quality wellbeing programs, and how can school leaders tackle them? 

 

Rising Student Mental Health Issues

It doesn’t take a counsellor’s crystal ball to see that student mental health has taken a toll in recent years. The pandemic, social media pressures, and academic expectations have accelerated rates of anxiety, depression and stress among young people. 

In fact according to data from last year, 57 % of female high‑school students in the US report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and nearly 60 % of young people with major depression receive no treatment. 

Meanwhile, some states in the US are responding by offering “mental health days”: excused absences for students to focus on their wellbeing. Twelve US states, including Illinois, now have such laws. And the message they are trying to deliver is pretty clear: mental health matters just as much as physical health.

In the UK, studies show similar patterns. The UCL and Anna Freud Education for Wellbeing trial found that many pupils struggle to differentiate normal stress from clinical mental illness. 

Their Strategies for Safety and Wellbeing programme taught students to normalise feelings of sadness and stress and improved mental health literacy and help‑seeking intentions. Yet many schools still lack systematic support.

So the question is no longer “Is this a problem?”… it’s more like “What are we actually doing about it?” Because spotting the warning signs is just the beginning.

The real work starts when schools put the right support systems in place, proactively, consistently, and school-wide. Here’s how that can look in practice:

How to Support Student Wellbeing

When mental health challenges are as widespread as homework, a few posters won’t cut it. Leaders should adopt evidence‑based, comprehensive strategies:

Implement whole‑school programmes

Choose interventions with proven impact. The Strategies for Safety and Wellbeing programme, for example, improved pupils’ understanding of emotions. Adopt frameworks like the 5 Steps to Mental Health and Wellbeing recommended by the Anna Freud Centre, ensuring staff training and regular monitoring.

Embed mental health education

Integrate Social and Emotional Learning into the curriculum. Teach students about stress management, healthy relationships, and coping strategies. Provide PSHE lessons and assemblies focusing on resilience.

Provide early identification and support

Illinois’ law is a bold step toward early detection; by 2027‑28 every pupil in grades 3–12 will receive free mental health screenings, and families will be guided to services via the BEACON platform. Even without legislation, schools can implement regular wellbeing check‑ins and train staff to recognise warning signs. Encourage self‑referral by making counsellor access easy and stigma‑free.

Foster safe spaces and peer support

Create wellbeing clubs or peer mentoring programmes where students can share experiences. Provide quiet rooms for reflection and encourage student voice in shaping wellbeing initiatives.

Bullying and Lack of a Safe School Environment

Bullying remains an unwelcome shadow in school corridors even in 2025. Compared to recent years, the phenomenon of cyberbullying has seen a rise, obviously, thanks to the jump in digitalisation during the pandemic period. 

If until now, bullying was bound to happen in a school yard, now it got an upgrade and surprise, you could be bullied at any time of the day, even while you’re asleep. 

In the study we observed, 32.7% of students said they had experienced cyberbullying within the 30 days prior to completing the survey. 

Although taking the lead, cyberbullying has not yet entirely replaced traditional bullying, as the numbers there have also doubled in recent years compared to the previously cited study. 

So how do we protect our students from bullying when it encompasses school premises?

How to Foster a Safe, Inclusive Culture

“Zero tolerance” policies and poster campaigns aren’t enough at this point. Effective bullying prevention requires a community effort. Here’s how school leaders can act:

Develop a robust anti‑bullying policy

Ensure your policy covers physical, verbal, social and cyberbullying. Communicate clear reporting procedures and consequences. And most importantly, focus on restorative practices rather than punishment alone.

Train staff and students

Provide regular training on recognising and responding to bullying. Empower staff to intervene quickly and appropriately. Encourage students to act as up-standers rather than bystanders; their actions can make a huge difference.

Cultivate a culture of respect and inclusion

Integrate activities that celebrate diversity and encourage empathy. Encourage student‑led campaigns and awareness weeks. Create “wellbeing ambassador” roles for pupils to promote kindness and support peers.

Leverage technology responsibly

As AI tools evolve, some schools are using platforms such as Bark, Gaggle and GoGuardian to monitor digital communications and detect signs of distress or cyberbullying. These tools employ natural language processing and predictive models to flag concerning content. However, ensure privacy safeguards, informed consent and bias mitigation.

Staff Stress, Workload and Burnout

Teachers are human (despite what their superhero capes suggest). Yet workloads, accountability pressures and emotional demands are pushing them to breaking point.

Over three‑quarters of education staff in the UK report stress, anxiety or depression, and teachers often work over 50 hours a week. 

The 2025 State of the American Teacher survey found that teachers work an average of 49 hours per week, about 10 hours beyond their contracts; 16 % intend to leave the profession, though that’s down from 22 % in 2024. 

But teachers aren’t the only ones in this game of suffering! Senior leaders also face unique stressors that lead to burnout pretty quick. 

How to Combat Staff Burnout

Leaders can’t conjure extra hours, but they can reduce unnecessary burdens and support staff:

Review workload and administrative demands: Audit marking, reporting, and meeting schedules. Simplify processes, integrate technology for efficiency, and consider job‑sharing or co‑planning to distribute tasks.

Encourage work–life balance: Model healthy boundaries. Establish policies like no emails after hours, meeting‑free planning time and protected lunch breaks. Encourage staff to take personal or mental health days (in jurisdictions that allow them).

Provide mental health support: Offer access to counselling or employee assistance programmes. In the US, some districts partner with tele‑mental health services. Encourage staff to create personal wellbeing action plans and check in regularly with line managers.

Empower leaders to seek help: Senior leaders often carry the weight of others’ wellbeing. Provide mentoring and peer‑support networks for headteachers and leadership teams.

Low Staff Morale and Wellbeing

Beyond workload, morale dips when teachers feel undervalued or unsupported.

Retention is a real concern for school leaders, as stress and burnout lead to higher turnover and more costs.

 

How to Boost Staff Wellbeing & Morale

Create a supportive culture: Openly discuss mental health and encourage mutual support. Designate wellbeing champions or committees to coordinate initiatives, from mindfulness sessions to social events.

Celebrate and recognise staff: Acknowledge achievements (big and small) publicly. Celebrations don’t need to be extravagant. A thank‑you board or weekly shout‑out goes a long way.

Provide professional autonomy and growth: Teachers thrive when they have agency and opportunities to develop. Offer CPD programmes, encourage teacher‑led initiatives and involve staff in decision‑making.

Offer flexible working arrangements: Flexible scheduling, part‑time options or remote work for certain tasks can reduce burnout and improve retention.

Involve parents and community: Educate parents about respectful communication and partner with them to create a supportive atmosphere.

Academic Pressure and Exam Stress

Schools are caught in a high‑stakes environment.

Pupils worry about grades, league tables and future prospects while teachers worry about inspections and government targets. 

This performance pressure leads to stress for both groups. How to avoid this? 

Creating a Balanced, Supportive Environment

Reframe success: Celebrate growth, resilience and effort, not just grades. Use praise to reinforce effort and progress. Highlight diverse achievements (sport, creativity, kindness) at assemblies.

Teach study and stress‑management skills: Deliver workshops on time management, revision techniques and wellbeing practices like mindfulness or breathing exercises. Provide quiet study spaces and exam‑season wellbeing drop‑ins.

Support teachers during high‑pressure periods: Adjust expectations around administrative tasks near exam times. Encourage collaborative marking to reduce isolation.

Work with parents: Educate families about healthy expectations and signs of stress. Encourage them to support balanced routines (sleep, nutrition, breaks).

Integrate fun and downtime: Schedule wellbeing days or “Brain Breaks” during busy periods. A walk outside or a short game can reset energy and reduce stress.

There’s enough stress in the world, at home, so how about we try to make school the one place where we stress as little as possible? (I know, sounds weird to even say it out loud!)

Lack of a Whole‑School Wellbeing Approach

Many schools attempt isolated wellbeing initiatives like a one‑off mindfulness session, or a “Wellbeing Week”, without embedding wellbeing into policy and culture. 

But without a coordinated strategy, efforts are fragmented and staff may view wellbeing as an extra burden rather than integral to teaching and learning. 

How do we do it right?

Embedding Wellbeing in School Culture

Adopt a whole‑school strategy: Align wellbeing with the school’s vision. Allocate leadership (e.g. Wellbeing Lead or committee), resources and time. Use frameworks like the Anna Freud Centre’s five‑step model or the CDC’s school mental health action guide.

Integrate wellbeing into policies: Include mental health considerations in behaviour, curriculum, safeguarding and HR policies. Make wellbeing a standing agenda item at staff meetings and governance boards.

Engage stakeholders: Involve staff, pupils, parents and governors in shaping wellbeing initiatives. Survey the community regularly to track impact and identify needs.

Provide training: Ensure all staff, including teaching assistants and admin staff, receive mental health training. Increase mental health literacy so that everyone can recognise and respond to distress.

Link to local services: Partner with mental health organisations, charities and healthcare providers. Schools can also form partnerships with local CAMHS, educational psychologists and community groups.

Conclusion

As leaders, we must look beyond quick fixes and build a culture where students and staff feel safe, supported and valued.

That means tackling student anxiety, preventing bullying, reducing staff burnout, balancing academic pressure and embedding wellbeing in every policy and practice. 

Small steps like a listening ear, a clearer marking policy, or even a celebration board add up to transformational change.

But when wellbeing is everyone’s business, schools become places where both people and performance flourish.

 

 

FAQs ​​Wellbeing Challenges in Schools and How to Overcome Them

1. What are the biggest wellbeing challenges schools face today?

Schools are grappling with rising student mental health issues, bullying, staff stress and burnout, low morale, exam pressure and the lack of a coordinated wellbeing strategy. Research shows a significant portion of students experience persistent sadness and anxiety, while over three‑quarters of staff report stress or depression. Bullying remains widespread, and heavy workloads contribute to teacher burnout.

2. Why is a whole‑school approach to wellbeing important?

Isolated initiatives rarely succeed. A whole‑school approach integrates wellbeing into policies, curriculum and culture. It involves leadership commitment, training for all staff, student and parent engagement, and partnerships with external services. Such comprehensive strategies ensure consistency, reduce stigma and create lasting change.

3. What can school leaders do to support staff wellbeing?

Leaders can reduce workload burdens, encourage work–life balance, provide access to mental health support and celebrate staff achievements. Creating open dialogue about mental health improves satisfaction and reduces absenteeism. Flexible working arrangements and wellbeing committees also enhance morale.

4. How do mental health screenings and mental health days help?

Universal mental health screenings, such as those planned in Illinois for grades 3-12, aim to identify issues early and connect families to support services. Mental health days, now permitted in 12 US states, legitimise the need for rest and reduce stigma around mental health. Both initiatives signal that wellbeing is as important as physical health and create structures to support students proactively.