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ANALYSIS: C Bonell, A Fletcher, and J McCambridge Improving school ethos may reduce substance misuse and teenage pregnancy BMJ 2007; 334: 614-616 [Full text]

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Shared experience

Gaurav Kohli, C Bonell , A Fletcher , and J McCambridge   (29 March 2007)

Shared experience 29 March 2007
Gaurav Kohli, Specialist Registrar in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry FACTS team & Gardner Unit ,Bolton Salford and Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust , Manchester M25 3BL, C Bonell , A Fletcher , and J McCambridge Send response to journal: Re: Shared experience	I read with great interest article by Bonell.et.al on possible benefits of improving school ethos. My experience of working with adolescents who have complex presentation which includes high risk behaviour, mental illness and occasionally mild learning difficulties in a secure adolescent setting is similar. Positive engagement in school using strategies such as improving school ethos , valuing accredited qualifications , etc helps to combat disaffection among adolescents.This inturn has an overall impact on their ability to succeed in future. When education becomes a significant part of their daily routine.It helps adolescents develop necessary social and vocational skills , provides opportunites to model pro social behaviour and reach their maximum potential.More importantly it indirectly reduces their offending behaviour,substance misuse and other risky attitudes such as reckless underage sex. Therefore I am of an opinion that though piecemeal works around sex education and substance misuse though are appreciable.If such programmes are undertaken in background of safety and security of strong school ethos where students are positively motivated and dedicated to bring about personal change it would be far more benefical and welcomed. Competing interests: None declared