Category: News

A recent journal article drawing on data from The SHRN Student Health and Well-being Survey, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, examined teenagers’ mental and physical health complaints before and two-years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study analysed data from 792,606 teenagers aged 11, 13 and 15 years across 35 countries (including Wales), as part of the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Drawing on four waves of HBSC data between 2010 and 2022, the study found that, cross-nationally, both mental and physical health complaints reported by teenagers in 2022 were considerably higher than what would have been expected based on pre-pandemic trends, particularly among adolescent girls.

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• Gender Differences: Both boys and girls reported substantially higher levels of mental health issues in 2022 (e.g. feeling low, nervous, irritable, and having difficulty sleeping), compared to past trends from 2010 to 2018. For physical health issues (e.g. feeling dizzy, headache, stomach ache, and back ache), a small but significant increase was observed only among girls.
• Sociodemographic Differences: Pre-existing inequalities by age widened between 2018 and 2022, with 13- and 15-year-olds reporting more complaints than 11-year-olds. In contrast, differences between socioeconomic groups observed prior to the pandemic for physical health issues got smaller: this was due to a greater increase in physical health issues reported by young people from higher compared to lower affluent families.
• Family Structure Impact: Young people living in single-parent households reported considerably higher levels of mental and physical health issues compared to those living with both parents, with this gap widening between 2018 and 2022.

One of the article’s co-authors, Dr Nick Page (Research Fellow and SHRN analytical lead), said:

“Drawing on data from 35 countries, our study highlights how changes in young people’s mental and physical health were substantially worse than expected following the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among girls and those living in single-parent homes. Given youth mental health was declining before the pandemic, this international evidence supports a narrative that COVID exacerbated an already existing crisis that needs urgently addressing.”

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SHRN’s partner, Public Health Wales,  is seeking feedback on new standards for a whole school approach to health and well-being in Welsh schools. These standards will replace the National Quality Award from 2009 and focus on core components rather than specific health topics, allowing schools to set their own health priorities and promote continuous improvement. 

The proposed standards cover seven areas: Leadership, Understanding Need, Involvement, Workforce, School Culture, Curriculum, and Support Services. Each standard includes detailed descriptions of necessary practices. 

SHRN is embedded into the whole school approach to health and well-being in Wales by providing essential data and evidence-based practices. SHRN conducts comprehensive surveys to gather data on learner health and well-being, which helps schools identify specific needs and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach is supported by feedback reports and national benchmarks, guiding schools in self-evaluation and action planning.  

Additionally, by offering resources and facilitating continuous improvement, SHRN ensures that schools can effectively implement and sustain health and well-being initiatives.

Over the last four months, the SHRN survey has been rolled out to all primary schools in Wales.

We have been overwhelmed by the fantastic support of primary schools Wales, and the hard work they have put in to make sure we have heard from as many learners as possible. Over 600 schools took part.

I am delighted that so many primary schools took part in our 2024 survey, enabling SHRN to support public health improvement efforts across Wales by providing actionable data about learners’ health and wellbeing.

A key strength of SHRN data is that it provides evidence at national, regional, and local levels, enabling schools to identify the health and wellbeing needs of learners and target appropriate action.

SHRN is delivering real world impacts, and I very much look forward to the next phase of our work together when the findings from the Autumn 2024 survey will be released in Spring 2025.

Professor Simon Murphy, Professor in Social Interventions and Health, Director of DECIPHer and The School Health Research Network

We are thrilled to announce the launch of The SHRN School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ) 2023 Report. This report offers valuable insights into how school policies—such as leadership, ethos, and community engagement—affect student health and well-being.

The SEQ not only assesses learner health well-being but also informs policy development at national and local levels, promoting a Whole-school Approach to emotional and mental health whilst also servings as a monitoring tool for the Welsh Network of Health and Well-being Promoting Schools (WNHWPS), guiding schools in implementing and evaluating their health initiatives. Further, by  identifying areas for improvement and fostering collaboration, the SEQ helps schools reflect on their practices and share innovative strategies.