Are mental health classes in schools working?

Are mental health classes in schools working?

From All in the Mind by BBC Radio 4

November 11, 2025 · 28 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the effectiveness of mental health classes in schools and explores related topics such as road rage and emotional memory.

It is now compulsory for schools across the UK to teach children about mental health and wellbeing. Whilst it might seem like classes for everyone on these topics might be helpful, a new study has found that in some cases, they may actually be worsening mental health problems. How could this be? Claudia Hammond is joined by Dr Lucy Foulkes to discuss the possible reasons why. Listener Paul got in touch to ask why some drivers get road rage. What is it about being in a car that makes people see red? On hand to answer is traffic psychologist Professor Dwight Hennessy, who has been studying the phenomenon for years. And Claudia is joined in the studio by Catherine Loveday, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Westminster. Catherine brings us new research looking at how we remember emotional memories and why musicians show a higher resistance to pain. Plus, we reflect on some of your feedback on hoarding disorder. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Sophie Ormiston Editor: Ilan Goodman Studio Manager: Donald MacDonald Production coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

People in this episode

Host: Claudia Hammond

Guests: Dr Lucy Foulkes, Professor Dwight Hennessy, Catherine Loveday

Topics covered

  • mental health
  • education
  • road rage
  • cognitive neuroscience
  • emotional memories
  • pain resistance

Keywords

  • mental health classes
  • schools
  • road rage
  • cognitive neuroscience
  • emotional memories
  • pain resistance
  • UK education

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Westminster, BBC Radio 4

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