Promoting and Supporting Mental Health & Student Wellbeing in Schools

13
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

description

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. Promoting Wellbeing - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Promoting and Supporting Mental Health & Student Wellbeing in Schools

Page 1: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

Promoting and Supporting Mental Health & Student

Wellbeing in Schools

Dr Treasa KirkSenior InspectorDepartment of Education and Skills

Frances ShearerNational CoordinatorSPHE National Support Service

Children’s Mental Health Coalition1 March, 2012

Page 2: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

Promoting Wellbeingin 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

Page 3: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

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 StrandsPost-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”

Page 4: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

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

Page 5: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

Supports for Schools

CPDCPD

SPHE Post-Primary Support Service

&HSE

(Health Promotion)

SPHE Post-Primary Support Service

&HSE

(Health Promotion)

NCSENCSE

InspectorateInspectorate

NEPSNEPS

NCCANCCA

SchoolSchool

NationalSupport Services

- WSE- Subject inspection- Incidental Inspections

Page 6: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

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

Page 7: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

• 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 2005-2014

Page 8: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

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

Page 9: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

Three levels of Support

Support (for ALL)

School Support(for Some)

School SupportPlus (for a Few)

Each level of support builds on the preceding level

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

Page 10: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

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

Page 11: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in 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

Page 12: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

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 participationConsistent implementation of SPHE/RSE

Improving Outcomes for Young People

Page 13: Promoting and Supporting  Mental Health & Student Wellbeing  in Schools

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