Students spend a considerable amount of their formative time in school settings, attempting to discover, manage and mould their identities. These settings can be incredibly difficult, particularly if the school measures success only through academic means. This is no comfort to the estimated 10% -20% of adolescents who experience mental health issues. In the USA, between 2009 and 2017, rates of depression in teenagers aged 14-17 increased by more than 60% (Twenge et.al, 2019). Globally, anxiety (8th) and depression (9th) are listed as leading causes of adolescent illness and disability (WHO, 2019).
Initiatives such as The Jugar Life Student Challenge use a positive psychology approach to increase student happiness and well-being.