Positive mental wellbeing - resources to support children and young people

Published 12/06/2020.  Last updated 15/10/2024
sourceLearning resources schoolHealth and Wellbeing (HWB)

This page is designed to provide a comprehensive package of information, resources and organisations which are freely available to support primary and secondary school staff to support mental wellbeing.

It is hoped that it will be a useful and practical resource for practitioners working with children and young people ensuring the focus on their wellbeing is equal to that of other curricular areas. The majority of these resources are universal support.

Explore this resource

Education authorities and schools are responsible for identifying, supporting and developing the mental wellbeing of pupils. Every child and young person should have access to mental wellbeing support in school.

This may be support from their class teacher, pastoral care staff, school counselling or Educational Psychology Services, or specialist family and health services when required.

It is recognised that this list is not exhaustive, and many education authorities or schools may produce their own specific resources around mental wellbeing in partnership with local partners and children and young people. The following PDF provides a downloadable version of the supports listed below.

PDF file: Resources for School Staff to support Positive Mental Wellbeing of children and young people (520 KB)

In addition, The Cycle of Wellbeing provides a helpful narrative of how many of the resources and guidance published can be used strategically to enhance the mental wellbeing of staff and children and young people.

Professional Learning

The Scottish Government is ensuring that promoting children and young people’s mental health is a core component of staff professional learning.

COVID-19

Teachers and school leaders play a fundamental role in promoting and protecting the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people, which will be critical in supporting children and young people during the experience of COVID-19.

Inclusive Education

Scottish education is based on the belief that education is a human right and that all children and young people should be supported to reach their fullest potential.

Bullying / Peer support

The Scottish Government takes bullying very seriously. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and must be addressed quickly, whenever it arises. We want all children and young people to learn tolerance, respect, equality and good citizenship to address and prevent prejudice, as well as healthy relationships.

Relationship Based Approaches

Scottish education has a key focus on wellbeing and relationship-based approaches to support children and young people. An understanding of how early experiences impact on children and young people’s behaviour and the importance of relationships in shaping later outcomes is the foundation which underpins much of the Scottish policy landscape and curriculum

Relationship based approaches such as a nurturing approach help schools to develop an awareness of early adversity and trauma and are therefore a pivotal part of realising the Scottish Government’s aim of preventing and mitigating the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Health and wellbeing (curriculum)

Learning in health and wellbeing ensures that children and young people develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future.

The mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing of everyone within a learning community should be positively developed by fostering a safe, caring, supportive, purposeful environment that enables the development of relationships based on mutual respect. The four aspects of wellbeing are inextricably linked.

It is important that the educational establishments have the capacity to support pupils and flexibility to utilise an approach that meets local needs and circumstances. Providing a positive future for our young people is our top priority and their mental health is a key part of that. Curriculum for Excellence is helping young people gain the knowledge, skills, capabilities and attributes needed for learning, life and work.

Qualifications

Mental Health and Wellbeing Award at SCQF levels 4 and 5

Improvement questions

  • Consider the impact of Covid-19 on the positive wellbeing of children. How are you preparing your learning materials and approaches in the wider school environment to support mental wellbeing needs?
  • How are you ensuring that the learning resources and wider approaches are supporting development of a whole school approach to support the mental wellbeing of the school community?
  • How will you and your colleagues ensure nurturing principles and the wellbeing indicators are considered to support the positive wellbeing of children and young people?

Overarching policy and guidance

The Scottish Government has made clear the commitment of this government to promote and support children’s mental wellbeing, through wide ranging commitments in its Programme for Government.
These links to resources provide information to support development of school policy linked to positive mental wellbeing of children and young people.

^ Back to top

Positive mental wellbeing - resources to support children and young people

Published 12/06/2020.  Last updated 15/10/2024
sourceLearning resources schoolHealth and Wellbeing (HWB)

This page is designed to provide a comprehensive package of information, resources and organisations which are freely available to support primary and secondary school staff to support mental wellbeing.

It is hoped that it will be a useful and practical resource for practitioners working with children and young people ensuring the focus on their wellbeing is equal to that of other curricular areas. The majority of these resources are universal support.

Explore this resource

Education authorities and schools are responsible for identifying, supporting and developing the mental wellbeing of pupils. Every child and young person should have access to mental wellbeing support in school.

This may be support from their class teacher, pastoral care staff, school counselling or Educational Psychology Services, or specialist family and health services when required.

It is recognised that this list is not exhaustive, and many education authorities or schools may produce their own specific resources around mental wellbeing in partnership with local partners and children and young people. The following PDF provides a downloadable version of the supports listed below.

PDF file: Resources for School Staff to support Positive Mental Wellbeing of children and young people (520 KB)

In addition, The Cycle of Wellbeing provides a helpful narrative of how many of the resources and guidance published can be used strategically to enhance the mental wellbeing of staff and children and young people.

Professional Learning

The Scottish Government is ensuring that promoting children and young people’s mental health is a core component of staff professional learning.

COVID-19

Teachers and school leaders play a fundamental role in promoting and protecting the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people, which will be critical in supporting children and young people during the experience of COVID-19.

Inclusive Education

Scottish education is based on the belief that education is a human right and that all children and young people should be supported to reach their fullest potential.

Bullying / Peer support

The Scottish Government takes bullying very seriously. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and must be addressed quickly, whenever it arises. We want all children and young people to learn tolerance, respect, equality and good citizenship to address and prevent prejudice, as well as healthy relationships.

Relationship Based Approaches

Scottish education has a key focus on wellbeing and relationship-based approaches to support children and young people. An understanding of how early experiences impact on children and young people’s behaviour and the importance of relationships in shaping later outcomes is the foundation which underpins much of the Scottish policy landscape and curriculum

Relationship based approaches such as a nurturing approach help schools to develop an awareness of early adversity and trauma and are therefore a pivotal part of realising the Scottish Government’s aim of preventing and mitigating the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Health and wellbeing (curriculum)

Learning in health and wellbeing ensures that children and young people develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future.

The mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing of everyone within a learning community should be positively developed by fostering a safe, caring, supportive, purposeful environment that enables the development of relationships based on mutual respect. The four aspects of wellbeing are inextricably linked.

It is important that the educational establishments have the capacity to support pupils and flexibility to utilise an approach that meets local needs and circumstances. Providing a positive future for our young people is our top priority and their mental health is a key part of that. Curriculum for Excellence is helping young people gain the knowledge, skills, capabilities and attributes needed for learning, life and work.

Qualifications

Mental Health and Wellbeing Award at SCQF levels 4 and 5

Improvement questions

  • Consider the impact of Covid-19 on the positive wellbeing of children. How are you preparing your learning materials and approaches in the wider school environment to support mental wellbeing needs?
  • How are you ensuring that the learning resources and wider approaches are supporting development of a whole school approach to support the mental wellbeing of the school community?
  • How will you and your colleagues ensure nurturing principles and the wellbeing indicators are considered to support the positive wellbeing of children and young people?

Overarching policy and guidance

The Scottish Government has made clear the commitment of this government to promote and support children’s mental wellbeing, through wide ranging commitments in its Programme for Government.
These links to resources provide information to support development of school policy linked to positive mental wellbeing of children and young people.

^ Back to top