The Role ofMental Health

in Learning

Subjective well-being of young people, an OECD

overview

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

average rank for the six dimensions of child well-being assessed

Secure attachment

• Instinctive urge to attach, rooted in evolution• Deep, long lasting emotional attachment• Affects:– Mind, body, emotions, relationships, values

• Positive affect on:– Self-esteem, independence, enduring

relationships, empathy, compassion and resilience

Insecure attachment

• An aversion to touch and physical affection.– Rather than producing positive feelings, touch and affection are perceived as a threat.

• Control issues.– Often go to great lengths to remain in control and avoid feeling helpless.– Disobedient, defiant, and argumentative.

• Anger problems.– Anger may be expressed directly, in tantrums or acting out, or through manipulative,

passive-aggressive behavior.– May hide their anger in socially acceptable actions, like giving a high five that hurts or

hugging someone too hard.• Difficulty showing genuine care and affection.

– May act inappropriately affectionate with strangers while displaying little or no affection towards their parents.

• An underdeveloped conscience.– Might act like they don’t have a conscience and fail to show guilt, regret, or remorse after

behaving badly.

Types of insecure attachment

• Ambivalent – clings, withdraws in unfamiliar environment, separation anxiety, rejects efforts to comfort, soothe

• Avoidant – pseudo independence and self-sufficiency, rejects or avoids comforting, unaffected by close, intimate contacts

• Disorganized – no consistent strategy for comfort-seeking, depression, motor-freezing, disassociation (most serious form)

Common causes

• Abuse• Neglect• Addiction• Disrupted parental relationships• Parent death/loss

Characteristics

• Behavioural• Emotional• Cognitive/thinking• Relationships• Physical• Moral/spiritual

Strategies

• Reciprocal behaviours between child and adult– Respectful eye contact, body language– Respectful verbal language– Calming, soothing, nurturing responses– Physical proximity and touching– Careful, deliberate listening– Accepting limits - boundaries

Strategies

• Classroom Environment/Structure– Rationality– Realism– Intuitiveness– Creativity– Admit and correct mistakes– Benevolence and cooperativeness