Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Pupils and Mental Wellbeing

Myers, Martin

Abstract

Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) communities suffer some of the worst health outcomes in the UK including low levels of life expectancy, high rates of infant mortality, and a high prevalence of chronic health conditions (McFadden et al., 2018; NHS, 2020). Less widely understood outside of GRT communities has been the prevalence of mental health issues, including anxiety, stress, and levels of suicide seven times that for the wider population amongst GRT men (Sweeney & Dolling, 2020). Young GRT people are often ill-equipped to deal with mental health challenges as within communities there has been a reluctance to talk about mental health. This is all the more problematic as GRT communities experience the very social conditions that exacerbate mental health issues, including poor and insecure accommodation, higher incidences of family bereavement and trauma, and higher rates of imprisonment (Cemlyn et al., 2009; HoC, 2019). Other specific circumstances including the exclusion of GRT identifying as LGBTQ+ has similarly exacerbated many young people’s problems. Recently, there has been a concerted drive by GRT community and advocacy groups to promote accessible healthcare messages throughout their communities and in particular to younger community members. Schools also have an important role to play in delivering these messages. However, relationships between schools and GRT families are often shaped by misunderstandings about GRT culture, and this does result in teachers not always addressing pupil’s needs (Bhopal & Myers, 2009; Hamilton, 2018). This chapter explores mental health issues within GRT communities and situates these within the community and social structures that have made this such a devastating area of daily life. It will then explore how schools can support young GRT people better in the future.

Citation

Myers, M. (2022). Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Pupils and Mental Wellbeing. In Mental Wellbeing in Schools: What Teachers Need to Know to Support Pupils from Diverse Backgrounds (37-47). London: Taylor & Francis (Routledge). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003160526-4

• Acceptance Date: May 25, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 22, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: May 25, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 23, 2023
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 37-47
• Book Title: Mental Wellbeing in Schools: What Teachers Need to Know to Support Pupils from Diverse Backgrounds
• Chapter Number: 4
• ISBN: 9780367749651
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003160526-4
• Keywords: Gypsy Roma Traveller 'Mental Wellbeing'
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8222541
• Publisher URL: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003160526-4/gypsy-roma-traveller-pupils-mental-wellbeing-martin-myers
• Related Public URLs: https://www.routledge.com/Mental-Wellbeing-in-Schools-What-Teachers-Need-to-Know-to-Support-Pupils/Mahmud-Satchell/p/book/9780367749651