Boys mental health, and the role of physical activity Shelley Taylor Young People’s Public Health Officer Hertfordshire County Council Shelley.taylor@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Attendees will leave the session equipped with the following: A greater understanding of the emotional issues that face boys and young men National and local information Key points in boys mental health Be aware of the issues and how to address them Links between physical activity and mental health and wellbeing

Mental Health Continuum

A greater understanding of the worries from the Health Related Behaviour Survey 2016 Herts schools

Health Related Behaviour Survey

Health Related Behaviour Survey

Hertfordshire Emotional Wellbeing Survey for teenage boys: July 2017 641 male respondents completed the survey (out of 853) The majority of respondents were aged between 10 and 15 (90%), with the next highest category being 16-18 (5%) Boys appear to have slightly less awareness of mental health info and support than girls Some of the barriers boys experience are; fear of being judged, embarrassment, bullying, being laughed at, fear of being seem ask weak, feeling uneasy about talking to someone they don’t know. Coping strategies for boys; sports and physical activity, gaming, punching pillows However, boys were more likely to report they would ‘do nothing’ than girls

Health Behaviour in School Aged Children 2014 Survey

What do we know? Boys and young men only account for 25% of the young people using mental health services. Around three-quarters of all suicides in 2016 in Great Britain were male. Boys are less likely to see help at the early stages of their mental health issue. Boys are more likely to ‘do nothing’. Sports and physical activities are ways of coping that boys use.

Health Behaviour in School Aged Children 2014 Survey

Stress Bucket exercise

Health Behaviour in School Aged Children 2014 Survey

Hertfordshire Wellbeing Survey 2017

Hertfordshire Wellbeing Survey 2017

Group Discussion What are your experiences of boys/young men asking for emotional support? Has this been different to the girls you work with? What ways does and/or could your school support boys’ emotional health through physical activity?

Information and tools Five ways to wellbeing Mindfulness Techniques Kooth https://kooth.com/ Health for Teens website http://www.healthforteens.co.uk/ Chat health Local community counselling services for YP Young minds website https://youngminds.org.uk/