Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools - The role of the school in working toward a healthier Scotland
THURSDAY 02 JUNE 2016
COSLA CONFERENCE CENTRE, CENTRAL EDINBURGH
ONE-DAY CONFERENCE
Event Outline
In January this year the First Minister announced an additional £54m for improving access to mental health services. including access for child and adolescent needs.
With the number of young people seeking help for mental health issues on the rise, schools are at the forefront of providing support but also hold the key to prevention in enabling young people. How can we prevent crisis point and support a proactive approach to positive mental health and wellbeing in Scottish Schools?
With an emphasis on sharing the lessons learned from existing practice, this one-day training conference will explore:
Insight and improvements
- Mental health strategy for Scotland and the role of schools
- Working with young people under pressure
- Resilience – the key to prevention?
Prevention and Pro-active Policies
- Adopting best practice in mental health wellbeing
- Preventative approaches and how to work with families
Knowledge and best practice
- Understanding the issues affecting young people
- Pressures on young people and what next?
Supported by
Speakers
Suzanne Hargreaves
Senior Education Officer for Health and Wellbeing, Education Scotland
Dr Ross Whitehead
HBSC Research Fellow, Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, University of St Andrews
Billy Watson
Chief Executive, SAMH
Brian Donnelly
Director, respectme
Jonathan Wood
National Manager - Scotland, Place2Be
Dr Heather Cleland Woods
School of Psychology, University of Glasgow
Brandi Lee Lough Dennell
Assistant Policy Director, LGBT Youth Scotland
Sean Bookless
Content Editor, Young Scot
Charlotte Fountaine
Designer, Snook
Kirsty McCahill MSYP
Equalities Committee Convener, Scottish Youth Parliament
Agenda
08:45-09:30 Registration and morning refreshments
Session One: Setting the scene
09:30-09:40 Chair’s welcome and introduction
Billy Watson, Chief Executive, SAMH
09:40-10:10 Welcome Address
“Society and Mental Health – an overview of the current national and international picture with trends over time”
Dr Ross Whitehead, HBSC Research Fellow, Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, University of St Andrews
10:10-10:30 Keynote Address – Mental Health and Wellbeing in Scottish schools
- Supporting mental health: the role of the school
- Curriculum for excellence and GIRFEC
- Exam pressure and stress – how to recognise and help
Suzanne Hargreaves, Senior Education Officer for Health and Wellbeing, Education Scotland
10:30-10:50 Opportunities for questions and discussion
10:50-11:10 Tea and coffee break, opportunities for networking
Session Two: Support in the school
11:10-11:50 Resilience building in Schools
- What we have learned from the past 10 years in Scotland
- Why resilience matters
- The vital work of school-based support
Jonathan Wood, National Manager – Scotland, Place2be Scotland
11:50-12:10 Supporting LGBT students
- Best practice and latest training
- Inequalities in the mental health of LGBT young people
- What support can you give?
Brandi Lee Lough Dennell, Assistant Policy Director, LGBT Youth Scotland
12:10-12:30 Bullying and mental health
- What is the impact?
- What do Scottish schools do well?
- What do we need more of?
- And how can we help restore what is lost when bullying occurs?
Brian Donnelly, Director, respectme
12:30-12:50 Opportunities for questions and discussion
12:50-13:40 Buffet lunch, opportunities for networking
Session Three: The future mental health of young people
13:40-13:45 Chair’s Welcome Back
13:45-14:05 The impact of social media on young people
- The implications of a 24 hour digital lifestyle
- What are the added pressures facing teens in 2016?
- What future trends should we be aware of?
Dr Heather Cleland Woods, School of Psychology, University of Glasgow
14:05-14:15 Opportunities for questions and discussion
14:15-14:30 Speak your Mind
- Promoting the positive
- Stopping stigma
- Engaging young people in mental health discussions
Kirsty McCahill MSYP, Equalities Committee Convener, Scottish Youth Parliament
14:30-15:25 An introduction to Aye Mind
Sean Bookless, Content Editor, Young Scot
followed by…
Aye Mind Gif-making Workshop
Led by: Charlotte Fountaine, Designer, Snook
15:25-15:30 Chair’s closing remarks
Venue
Hosted by
COSLA Conference Centre
Verity House
19 Haymarket Yards
Edinburgh
EH12 5BH
t: 0131 474 9200
www.cosla.gov.uk/conference_centre