The feeling of health and wellbeing has improved amongst school-age children and young people in Aberdeen according to the pupils themselves.
A report on two Health & Wellbeing surveys undertaken by Aberdeen City Council schools in September-November 2023, was presented to members of the Education and Children’s Services Committee today (Tuesday 30 April 2024).
Councillor Martin Greig, Convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “The survey results of children and young people in our schools are of paramount importance because we need all our pupils to feel safe, supported and valued. Our Education team is working with key partners to deliver our commitment to enable all our pupils to be happy secure, confident, resilient and healthy.”
Councillor Jessica Mennie, vice-convener, of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “This report offers an insight into how our children and young people are feeling and is extremely useful in highlighting how they feel supported and what more can be done to further improve their feeling of mental and physical wellbeing.”
During November 2023, 10,382 children and young people from Primary 6-Secondary 6 in Aberdeen City Council-run schools completed the Mental Health & Wellbeing Survey developed by the Scottish Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement Research Network (SHINE). This was a higher return rate than the previous year (9,803).
The same age group also had the opportunity to take part in a Physical Health & Wellbeing survey September-November 2023, which was developed by Aberdeen City Council. A total of 8,916 pupils completed this survey, an increase of 1,923 from the previous year.
Areas of improvement have been observed with pupils reporting they:
- Feel safer across all aspects of their life.
- Feel more included across all aspects of their life.
- Have increased overall good health.
- Have increased positive feelings about body image.
- Feel listened to by those in their life.
- Slept more than 5 hours a night.
Areas requiring further consideration and continued support, including engaging with community partners, are more learners reporting they:
- Spend more hours per day using technology.
- Have been impacted by technology affecting the choices that they make, relating to and impacting their sleep.
- Are having later bed times compared to last year, in both Primary and Secondary settings.
- At a high level (49%) in Secondary are not eating breakfast daily.
- Are trying cigarettes, e-cigarettes more and increasing in use of e-cigarettes/vaping.
- Remain consistent in their usage of alcohol.
- At a slightly higher number have tried illegal substances.
The Education Service through the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) and associated Children’s Services Plan will link with the Mental Health Collaborative to review any identified trends and consider how to address these.
A report on the next health and wellbeing surveys will be reported back to the Education and Children’s Services Committee within one calendar year.