Could do better – New Data from The Child Wellbeing Report Shows That Three Children in Every Classroom Show Signs of Emotional Distress

As we move through the five-year mark since the first COVID-19 lockdown, alarming new data from Lumii.me reveals that schools are facing an escalating crisis in student mental health.

The data, collected from 57,918 student interactions on the Lumii.me wellbeing platform during Term 2 (2024/25), shows that nearly three children in the average UK classroom are experiencing daily emotional distress. Due to the rapid rise in these challenges many  schools are not equipped to handle this emotional distress.

Talking about the report, Toni Hennessy, Learning Mentor at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School in Cheshire, with a BSc in Psychology and an MSc in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, said: 

“What this Lumii.me data reflects is a cohort of children who are increasingly able to voice their struggles – but not yet consistently equipped with the tools to manage them. Schools that embed emotional learning into their culture can make a lasting difference.”

What are the key findings from the Lumii.me interactions.

·      Three children (roughly 10%) in every classroom were flagged as experiencing moderate or severe emotional distress.

·      9.5% of all student interactions revealed concerns requiring urgent attention.

·      Anger is the most pressing issue, making up 15.66% of high-risk interactions.

·      Sadness (13.45%) and low mood (11.78%) follow closely behind.

·      Stress and friendship struggles highlight the daily emotional burdens students face.

Whilst this is distressing for the children and their parents, what is becoming an increasing worry is that schools are struggling to cope with this influx of mental distress.

Mental health experts and educators are sounding the alarm, warning that without more substantial interventions, many children may continue to suffer in silence. Schools urgently require additional resources to support children struggling with emotional and behavioural challenges. Experts recommend the implementation of:

·      Enhanced Emotional Literacy and Regulation Programmes to help students manage their emotions effectively.

·      Strengthened Peer Support Initiatives to foster a sense of belonging and emotional safety.

·      Holistic School-Wide Wellbeing Strategies that prioritize mental health in the same way as academic achievement.

·      Proactive and continuous monitoring identifies at-risk students and provides timely intervention.

Toni added: “This data from Lumii.me from over 57k child interactions shows that children are openly expressing emotional challenges. Schools are well placed to support them by continuing to build a positive culture around wellbeing, using data to inform their approach and embedding support into everyday school life.”

As we navigate through the five-year mark, the impact of COVID-19 on children’s mental wellbeing is still unfolding we have yet to see the total impact of COVID-19 on children’s mental health., However this latest data highlights that schools remain on the frontlines of a crisis they are often ill-equipped to manage. The question is, can we help and support schools to act before it’s too late?

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