Wellbeing in schools online collaborative event to take place

The Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health and Together for Children and Young People (T4CYP) will hold an online event next month on how to best support schools to improve young people’s wellbeing.

The afternoon will feature short scientific talks from youth mental health researchers, an introduction to the NEST Framework, and an opportunity to share learning and best practice across research, clinical, and education sectors.

The event will be co-chaired by Sally Holland, the Children's Commissioner for Wales, and Carol Shillabeer, Chair of the Together for Children and Young People (T4CYP) Programme.

Professor Frances Rice, co-director at the Wolfson Centre said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with T4CYP for this important opportunity to share best practice and learning across different sectors.

“Ensuring that staff in schools are equipped with knowledge and understanding on what works well in supporting young people with their mental health and wellbeing is vital.

“Professor Graham Moore, who co-leads our centre’s schools research workstream, and I will be presenting on utilising whole school systems and what mental health interventions can work best for young people in education settings.”

Across Wales, health boards are appointing teams of specialist mental health professionals to provide support to schools via in-reach Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Dr Elizabeth Gregory, Chair of the Early Help and Enhanced Support Work Stream for T4CYP, added:
“We are really excited that this joint event with the Wolfson Centre will not only be a chance to hear from youth mental health research experts but also to provide an opportunity to share practice examples across Wales.”

Talks will include:

• Professor Graham Moore (Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health) - Systems change in school to support young people's mental health.

• Professor Frances Rice (Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health) - School-based interventions to support young people’s mental health: what is the current scientific evidence for what works and what does not?

• Dr Elizabeth Gregory, (Chair of the Early Help and Enhanced Support Work Stream for T4CYP) - An introduction to the NEST Framework and experiences of the framework working in action.

• Dr Gemma Burns (Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board) and Dr James Cording (Senior Educational Psychologist, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board)– Gwent Whole School Approach to Wellbeing – Creating the context for Whole System Change.

There will also be an open forum for all attendees from across different sectors to share best practices and learning.

Professor Rice concluded: "This is the first of many events the Wolfson Centre will jointly host with key collaborative partners.

Online registration for Wellbeing in Schools: sharing learning to support young people is now open and the event will take place on 1 February 2022 between 13.00-16.00pm.