What does SEMH stand for ?

SEMH stands for Social, Emotional, and Mental Health. Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs are a specific category of special educational needs (SEN) where children and young people experience significant challenges in managing their emotions and behaviors. These difficulties often manifest in inappropriate responses and feelings towards various situations.

Children with SEMH struggle to build and maintain relationships with both peers and adults. They may also find it difficult to engage with learning and cope in a classroom setting without additional strategies and interventions. Such children often feel anxious, scared, and misunderstood.

Common Characteristics of SEMH

Children with SEMH may exhibit the following behaviors:

• Disruptive, antisocial, and uncooperative actions
• Frequent temper tantrums
• Feelings of frustration and anger, leading to verbal and physical aggression
• Withdrawn or depressed attitudes
• Anxiety and self-harming behaviors
• Engaging in stealing, truancy, or vandalism
• Substance abuse

Prevalence and Support

Recent statistics indicate that approximately 150,000 children in mainstream and special schools are affected by SEMH.

It’s important to note that SEMH is not necessarily a lifelong condition. With appropriate support, children and young people can make significant progress and lead successful lives. Various support services are available to help manage and overcome SEMH challenges.