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Student help seeking from pastoral care in UK high schools: a qualitative study
Author(s) -
Kendal Sarah,
Keeley Philip,
Callery Peter
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
child and adolescent mental health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1475-3588
pISSN - 1475-357X
DOI - 10.1111/camh.12029
Subject(s) - qualitative research , context (archaeology) , psychology , peer support , perception , medical education , pastoral care , emotional support , social support , nursing , medicine , social psychology , sociology , paleontology , social science , neuroscience , psychiatry , biology
Background Little is known about high school students' perceptions of school‐based pastoral support. This study aimed to explore this in the context of a high school–based emotional support project. Methods Qualitative interviews explored perspectives on help seeking of students ( N = 23) and staff ( N = 27) in three UK high schools where a pastoral project was introduced. Data were analysed thematically. Results Student peer groups perceived help seeking as a sign of weakness. However, students valued learning skills in managing emotions and friendships. Staff expressed concerns about students' ability to help seek proactively, and highlighted organisational influences on pastoral support. Conclusions Increasing student control over the process, and involving trusted staff, could encourage help seeking in high school. It is possible to access the views of students who do not help seek, to improve understanding of help‐seeking behaviour.