Promoting and Supporting Mental Health & Student Wellbeing in Schools

1. Promoting and Supporting Mental Health & Student Wellbeing in Schools Children’s Mental Health Coalition 1 March, 2012 Dr Treasa Kirk Senior Inspector Department of Education and Skills Frances Shearer National Coordinator SPHE National Support Service

2. Promoting Wellbeing in Primary & Post-Primary Schools • Positive teaching and learning environment • Student care systems and support for students • Whole-school approach, subject planning & • co-ordination structures • SPHE coordination • Home-school links • Guidance provision • Learning-support • SEN support • Development of SPHE plan and RSE policy & plan • Guidance plan (post-primary) – framework of student support and intervention • Critical Incident Management Plan • Procedures/policy in relation to visiting speakers/outside agencies • Policies – child protection, substance use, anti-bullying, communication with parents

3. Promoting Wellbeing in Primary & Post-Primary Schools through Curriculum • SPHE Curriculum including RSE - Infants to Junior Cycle • Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) – Senior Cycle “to enhance the emotional wellbeing and mental health of pupils… …..foster a sense of care & respect for self…..to support children’s physical, mental, emotional and social well-being” • 3 Key Elements • Whole-school caring & positive ethos • Timetabled SPHE (& RSE) provision • Integration across other curricular areas/subjects Primary: 3 Strands Post-Primary: 10 modules

4. Other Relevant Curricular Developments (NCCA) • Aistear: Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2010) • 4 interconnected relevant themes include: • Wellbeing • Identity and Belonging • Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle: Innovation & Identity (NCCA, 2011) “to contribute directly to the physical, mental & social wellbeing of students” Relevant Skills: - Managing myself - Staying well - Communicating - Working with others

5. Supports for Schools National Support Services • WSE • Subject inspection • Incidental Inspections

6. NEPS Service to Schools NEPS Mission: To support the personal, social and educational development of all children through the application of psychological theory and practice in education, having particular regard for children with SEN • Consultative model combining individual casework with support & development work • Problem-solving and solution-focused approach • Continuum of support implementation in all schools • Increasing focus on social, emotional & behavioural difficulties Regionally-based psychological service 90 % of student population have access (remainder access to DES scheme)

7. Interdepartmental Draft Mental Health Guidelines • Legislative Context • Education Act (1998) • EPSEN (2004) • Developing a Code of Behaviour: Guidelines for Schools 2008 (NEWB) Reach Out National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014 • SPHE Interdepartmental Committee - DES, HSE & Department of Health • Sub-committee established 2010 • Inspectorate, Department of Education & Skills (DES) • National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) • Department of Health & Children, OMCYA • Health Service Executive (HSE) • National SPHE Support Service

8. Interdepartmental Draft Mental Health Guidelines for Post-Primary Schools • Mental Health Literature Review completed (website) • Consultation Process with range of Stakeholders & Interest Groups completed • Integration of existing programmes / approaches to support implementation of SPHE & the NEPS continuum of support • Emphasises a whole-school co-ordinated approach to mental health promotion/suicide prevention

9. NEPS Continuum of Support for Students Interdepartmental Draft Mental Health Guidelines for Post-Primary Schools

10. CPD support aims to enable schools to support the mental, emotional and social wellbeing of students by: Maintaining inclusive and caring whole-school environments Having clear student support structures Increasing staff awareness about mental & emotional health Implementing appropriate SPHE/RSE Programmes Current Focus of CPD Support for Post-Primary Schools

11. How Support is Provided to Schools The SPHE Support Service provides: CPD for teachers of SPHE CPD for whole staff groups eg Promoting Student Welfare and Bullying Preventionand Intervention Support in implementing the Health Promoting Schools’ Model CPD in Child Protection Links with wide range of organisations NEPS, NBSS and SPHE Support Service take a whole-school / systems approach to promoting the health and wellbeing of students. • Mater CAMHS • BodyWhys • Crisis Pregnancy Programme • GLEN • BeLonGTo

12. Improving Outcomes for Young People Schools can be supported in: Continuously reviewing the service provided to young people and their families, particularly with regard to anti-bullying procedures Fostering open communication with parents and students Developing a more structured approach to student support teams Increasing levels of student participation Consistent implementation of SPHE/RSE

13. Improving Outcomes for Young People Role of parents Access to family support services Informal services – drop in centres/youth cafes Accessible, youth friendly mental health services