An online learning resource to help school staff support young people’s mental health has been unveiled by the Scottish Government today.
Staff will be able to learn more about factors influencing mental health and wellbeing, prevention-based approaches in schools and tips on how to end mental health stigma and discrimination.
The Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing (CYPMH) platform, which is open to all school staff in primary, secondary and special schools, has been developed by the Mental Health Foundation, Children in Scotland and training provider Digital Bricks.
Education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is of vital importance and this resource is a significant addition to the suite of resources that school staff can access. It will provide essential learning and knowledge on mental health and wellbeing that schools can adopt and embed across all aspects of the school environment.
“Although aimed primarily at school staff, it can also be accessed and used by anyone who wants to learn more about mental health and how to support children and young people.”
Councillor Stephen McCabe, COSLA spokesperson for Children and Young People, said: “The mental health and wellbeing of our children and young people must be a priority as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
“Ensuring those working with young people, in all capacities, have access to resources that develop their understanding of, and equip them to appropriately support mental health would be crucial; I welcome this comprehensive resource providing training and information for all school staff.”
The site includes four main sections split into “bitesize topics”. The core content should take around six to seven hours to complete and there are suggestions for further learning. Learners can move through topics at their own time and pace in any order.
This news follows the publication of ‘Positive Mental Wellbeing – resources to support children and young people’ on Education Scotland’s National Improvement Hub in June 2020.
And according the government, it fulfils its commitment to develop and strengthen mental health resources available to schools set out in the ‘2020 Programme for Government’.
View the resource here.