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

Promoting Wellbeing in Primary & Post-Primary Schools  SPHE coordination  Home-school links  Guidance provision  Learning-support  SEN support  Positive teaching and learning environment  Student care systems and support for students  Whole-school approach, subject planning & co-ordination structures 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 Key Elements - Whole-school caring & positive ethos - Timetabled SPHE (& RSE) provision - Integration across other curricular areas/subjects Promoting Wellbeing in Primary & Post-Primary Schools through Curriculum Primary: 3 Strands Post-Primary: 10 modules  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”

Other Relevant Curricular Developments (NCCA) 4 interconnected relevant themes include:  Wellbeing  Identity and Belonging  Aistear: Early Childhood Curriculum Framework (NCCA, 2010)  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

Supports for Schools National Support Services - WSE - Subject inspection - Incidental Inspections

NEPS Service to Schools Regionally-based psychological service 90 % of student population have access (remainder access to DES scheme)  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 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

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 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

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

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

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

The SPHE Support Service provides:  CPD for teachers of SPHE  CPD for whole staff groups eg Promoting Student Welfare and Bullying Prevention and Intervention  Support in implementing the Health Promoting Schools’ Model  CPD in Child Protection  Links with wide range of organisations How Support is Provided to Schools 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

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 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 Improving Outcomes for Young People