From Whack-a-Mole to Meaningful Action: Rethinking Mental Health Support
When we talk about mental health, the word action often gets tied to moments of visible struggle, stepping in when a young person is overwhelmed, responding to a crisis, or managing behaviours once they’ve already surfaced. While these responses matter, they reveal a deeper pattern in how we approach wellbeing: what I often refer to as a reactive, “whack-a-mole” approach.
A problem appears. We respond. Another pops up. We respond again. And so the cycle continues.
But what if action didn’t begin at the point of difficulty? What if the most powerful form of action was taken before problems emerge?
The Limits of the 'Whack-a-Mole' Approach
The “whack-a-mole” model is familiar in many settings especially in schools where things are fast-paced, demanding, and often exhausting. Practitioners find themselves constantly responding to immediate needs, with little time or space to step back and ask: Why do these challenges keep appearing?
This reactive mode can unintentionally narrow our focus. Instead of building long-term resilience, we become consumed with short-term fixes. Instead of creating environments that support wellbeing, we firefight associated behaviours, often meant as a form of communication.
Over time, this approach doesn’t just strain systems but can also limit young people’s opportunities to develop the skills they need to manage their own mental health.
Reframing Action: Prevention as a Priority
True action in mental health isn’t only about intervention; it’s about prevention and proactivity. It’s about embedding support into everyday experiences so that wellbeing is nurtured continuously, not just when something goes wrong.
Preventative action looks like:
- Creating regular, structured opportunities for emotional expression
- Building trusted relationships where young people feel seen and heard
- Teaching practical tools for self-regulation, reflection, and resilience
- Normalising conversations about feelings before they escalate
This kind of action is quieter. It’s less visible than crisis response. But its impact is deeper and more sustainable. These aren’t dramatic interventions but over time, they create a culture where wellbeing is part of the everyday, not an afterthought.
Moving Beyond Reaction
The “whack-a-mole” approach will always have a place as there will always be moments that require immediate response. But if it’s the only approach, we risk staying stuck in a cycle of reaction.
Mental Health Awareness isn’t just about noticing when something is wrong. It’s about taking meaningful, intentional action to build environments where fewer things go wrong in the first place.
That’s the shift: From reacting to preventing. From momentary fixes to lasting foundations.
Because real action doesn’t just respond to need, it reduces it.
Director of School Operations at stormbreak
Darryl is a former head teacher with over 20 years experience of working in primary schools. Darryl leads on the Surge programme at stormbreak, bringing mentally healthy movement to primary schools across England and Wales. Darryl enjoys running and playing volleyball in his spare time.