In the News

Ministers have been urged to address the “crisis in children’s mental health” after a Children’s Society report revealed that around one in four 14-year-old girls self-harm.

Here’s why it should go further

A new national response unit will be established to help local authorities support vulnerable children at risk of exploitation by criminal gangs.

Social media giant struggles to stay relevant to a younger generation

HEAD teachers in Renfrewshire do not need to record incidents of bullying that happen outside of school, according to council policy.

An analysis of 50 schools has found that they are increasingly cracking down when it comes to the use of mobile phones by pupils.

Online abusers can cause hurt to others, and do so repetitively, without interruption and all the while are protected by the safety that anonymity provides in cyberspace.

Teachers, pupils and parents must come together to ensure that cyberbullies face real life consequences

At least 420,000 children in England live in households with the "toxic trio" of domestic abuse, parental substance misuse and mental illness present, according to new estimates.

In July we reported that over 2 million children in England are living in families with complex needs, a figure based on aggregate levels of need for 70 vulnerable groups. Many of the children within these groups face multiple vulnerabilities, risks and needs. Whilst the data helps us estimate the number of vulnerable children in England, it isn’t able to provide insights on the lived experience of these children.

Childhood bullying is so common that it may not seem like a big deal. Up to 35% per cent of people are estimated to have experienced it at some point. By adulthood, we are generally expected to have “got over” it. But the mental health effects of being bullied can be serious and last a lifetime.

Sadly it comes as no surprise to see the latest information about crises in children’s mental health. All of the data shows, and has been showing for some time now, that problems are on the increase.

We’ve heard the stories of spinal damage, attention deficit and the breakdown of social interactions caused by texting. Now, some experts are citing the positive effects of the thumb-driven communication

Lara Ferguson used social media hashtags that revolved around self-harm, which she believes subsequently encouraged the feeling of needing to hurt herself.

The number of girls who have self harmed to the extent they require hospital treatment has doubled from 7,327 in 1997 to 13,463 last year, according to NHS data. Natasha Devon, writer and mental health activist writes in the Metro.

Parents in English-speaking countries are now increasingly likely to be accused of abusing their children. This mainly affects large proportions of families who are poor, deprived or socially excluded. My new research shows how this trend is being played out in England and what’s behind it.

Brace yourselves, because Instagram and Facebook have announced new updates which will bare the truths of how much time you are really spending on social media.

Parents warned over sick WhatsApp 'suicide' game that could be next Blue Whale

Around half (49 per cent) of admissions officers said they do not believe that students arrive at university "sufficiently prepared” for higher education, according to a study conducted by ACS International Schools.

The Department for Education's (DfE) new 'Keeping children safe in education' statutory guidance comes into force on the 3rd September 2018. Thankfully, it mentions online safety throughout and acknowledges that abuse can take place online.