19. Education can help directly as a therapeutic activity for people with mental
health problems.
20. More commonly reported was the preventative effect, where respondents talked
about how education had helped them avoid, minimise or address depression.
This outcome is a major component of what we have termed the sustaining
effect of education. Much of it relates to benefits that stop short of the medical,
but that have significant implications for the interrelationships between
education, health and community policies.
21. Learning helps people communicate more effectively with professionals, either
directly, by understanding the language or indirectly, by having the confidence
to express themselves and ask questions. It widens access to written information
on health issues. In addition, classes provide a forum for the formal and
informal exchange of health-related information.
22. Education can increase self-awareness and self-understanding. In general the
effect is positive, enhancing people’s sense of autonomy and efficacy, with
further positive consequences. But it can be risky for the individual and their
family, putting in question fundamental issues of personal identity.
23. Many of the other reported effects contribute to people’s sense of well-being,
and thereby to their good health. There are also negative effects, for example
from stress related to the demands of studying.
Social capital and social cohesion
24. Different competences emerged as a result of learning which promote civic
activity: ‘metacompetences’, which signal a holistic understanding of the place
of civic engagement; generic skills that could be put to good civic use; and basic
competences necessary for anyone to fulfil minimum citizenship requirements.
25. We identified various mechanisms through which tolerance and positive
learning about social values take place: social mix (the sheer fact of meeting
people from other social groups and backgrounds); role models provided by
teachers and other students; and subject content providing better understanding.
26. Participation in education also provides the physical opportunities through
which people can put their civic skills to use. This may be related to the school
or college, or to wider community issues.
27. A further benefit is a strengthening of social networks. We identify three ways
in which this occurs: individuals’ entry into new networks; the extension of
existing networks; and the restoration of networks that had in some way lapsed
or declined.
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