Emotional well-being
Mental and emotional health are fundamental to good general health and wellbeing. There are strong links between the emotional wellbeing of children and young people and their personal and social development and academic performance. They need healthy, supportive and stimulating environments with a clear focus on, and commitment to, helping them develop high self-esteem and good relationships and become confident, happy and ambitious people.
Promoting emotional wellbeing in schools
National and international evidence indicates that schools are an ideal setting in which to nurture emotional wellbeing and the evidence of success is strongest where wellbeing is promoted as part of an integrated whole school approach.
However, we know that one in 10 children and young people in Scotland experience mental health problems that have an impact on their thoughts, feelings, behaviour, learning and relationships on a day-to-day basis.
The 'National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being action plan 2003–2006' highlights the importance of the school setting for promoting mental, emotional and social health and wellbeing.
Local accreditation/quality assurance processes to promoting mental and emotional wellbeing in schools
It is now widely recognised that good mental and emotional health is a fundamental and underpinning component of positive health and wellbeing. There are strong links between the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and young people, their personal and social development and their ability to learn. Positive mental and emotional health is also the foundation of professional effectiveness for school staff.
It is important for everyone learning and working in schools that support structures and mechanisms are developed and implemented in ways that provide encouragement, build confidence and give a clear message that this work is vitally important. Local accreditation and quality assurance processes have been developed as important ‘tools’ to support health promotion to become embedded in the daily life of schools.
SHPSU commissioned a piece of work to find out if these local frameworks were helping the development of mental and emotional health promotion in schools.
The report of this work ‘The contribution of local accreditation/quality assurance processes to promoting mental and emotional wellbeing in schools’ finds that for many schools the introduction of, and participation in, such local processes has helped them to articulate the work they are already doing, to raise the profile and importance of mental and emotional wellbeing and to identify where action needs to be taken.
The way forward
Within education, the current policy agenda has set the scene for schools to help children and young people develop the self-esteem that they need to become confident, happy and ambitious. Schools are encouraged to value inclusion, equality and diversity, and to provide support if required.
The policy agenda includes the following initiatives:
- 'Ambitious, Excellent Schools: our agenda for action' (Scottish Executive, 2004)
- 'A Curriculum for Excellence' (Scottish Executive, 2004)
- 'Happy, Safe and Achieving their Potential: a standard of support for children and young people in Scottish schools' (Scottish Executive, 2005)
- 'Moving Forward! Additional support for learning' (Scottish Executive, 2003)
- 'Better Behaviour - Better Learning' (Scottish Executive, 2001).
Position paper
'An integrated approach to promoting emotional well-being in the school setting: A position paper' was produced in June 2005 by Jo Kopela and Anne Clarke, on behalf of the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing Schools Development Group.
The paper outlines the policy context, particular factors surrounding schools today, the links between emotional wellbeing and attainment, what works in health promotion, current work and the challenge for schools.
Jo Kopela was the National Development Officer for Improving Mental and Emotional Health with the Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit. Anne Clarke is Director of HeadsUpScotland, the National Project for Children and Young People's Mental Health.
Being Heroes
'Being Heroes: an exploration of the importance of leadership in promoting mental and emotional well-being in schools' was a series of open space events held during April 2006. They were hosted by the Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit in partnership with NHS Health Scotland at Stirling, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The report outlines the events and some of the key discussions that took place.
Useful links
HeadsUpScotland
Provides information about the National Project for Children and Young People's Mental Health, its activities and strands of work, as well as useful links and contact information.
WellScotland
The website for the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being, with information on its aims, priorities and publications.
HandsonScotland
The HandsOnScotland Website is an online resource for anybody working with children and young people. The website provides practical information and techniques on how to respond helpfully to children and young people's troubling behaviour.
