Today I am speaking with Dick Moore on my podcast. We talk about with the current mental health crisis in schools and with young people. We talk about suicide, self-harming and the pressure that young people are under. What can we do?

Dick Moore has worked as an English teacher, rugby coach, boarding school housemaster and, for over twenty years, the headmaster of a co-educational day and boarding school.

He has a passionate interest in adolescent development and emotional wellbeing. He qualified as a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor in 2012 and joined the Charlie Waller Trust in 2012. He has also attended an ASIST Suicide Intervention course.

Dick now travels the country giving talks to teachers, young people and parents to help raise awareness of mental health issues.

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Here are some of the questions that he answers: 

1. Can you share a little about your own journey? What drew you into doing the work that you now do regarding mental health?
2. I would be really interested to hear you speak about suicide and suicide ideation. Why is this such a problem at the moment especially with young people? And especially young males?
3. The pressure young people are under. Do you feel that young people are under more pressure now than in our day, especially after the last 2 years? Why is this? What can we as adults support them? What can young people do to manage and handle this pressure better?
4. I would love for you to speak a little about mental health in boarding schools. In your opinion, is there more pressure in a boarding school environment than a day school? One of my friends committed suicide while I was at boarding school. I saw the amount of pressure the boy was under and the lack of support. Has this changed since our day at boarding school?
5. Could you speak a little on male and female emotional honesty please? Do you feel that this has developed over the years or not?
6. I would love you to speak on the whole area of discrimination - in all walks of life…families, schools, friendships, businesses, race, creed, gender etc. etc.
7. How do we better support the young people? Especially in boarding schools where the houseparents are often under so much pressure. Is there something that we can set up in schools? In your experience what do you feel would work?
8. How do people learn more about what you do or reach out to you?

For more information about Dick Moore and other resources:

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthchildren #boardingschool

For more information about Dick's work and to invite him to speak at your school please visit:https://www.dickmoore.org/

To find out more about the Charlie Waller Trust: https://charliewaller.org/

A PDF spreadsheet about mental health: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/b5791d_58764f25627b4275a3c925206b3e8a74.pdf

Mental Health Qualifications: https://mentalhealthlearning.co.uk/courses/asist/

or: https://mhfaengland.org/individuals/youth/

Papyrus Mental Health Charity: https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

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An Evolving Man (AEM) Podcast is for men (and women) who want to grow, evolve and want support in learning how to do this.

On a regular basis there will be an interview around men's (and women's) topics ranging from self-development, relationships, spirituality, archetypes, trauma, boarding school and men's work featuring authors and leaders in this field.

The sense with these interviews is to support people during these times of change. What are the teachings, tools and practices that you can use to help you through these turbulent times?