Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 February 2021
165. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education her views on introducing a module on mental health awareness and positive mental health into the primary and secondary school curriculum; her further views on whether schools and centres for education should be playing a vital role in the promotion of positive mental health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10711/21]
View answerMy Department has an important role to play in supporting the well-being and mental health of our young people. My Department’s Well-being Policy and Framework for practice has given recognition to the importance of promoting well-being in education. It outlines a comprehensive, whole-school approach to the promotion of well-being and positive mental health. It focuses on the whole school community, as well as groups and individual young people with identified needs.
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) of my Department provides a comprehensive, school-based psychological service to all primary and post primary schools through the application of psychological theory and practice to support the well-being, academic, social and emotional development of all learners. NEPS also provides training to schools in programmes to reduce anxiety and promote coping and resilience in children and young people.
The curriculum also plays an important role in teaching students about managing their well-being. All students commencing Junior Cycle from September 2017 onwards undertake the area of learning called Well-being. Well-being crosses the three years of Junior Cycle and builds on substantial work already taking place in schools in support of students’ well-being. When planning a Well-being Programme schools should consider the NCCA developed short courses in PE, SPHE, and CSPE. In particular the SPHE short course Strand 4: My Mental Health focuses on building positive mental health, examining young people’s experience of mental ill health and learning how to support themselves and others in challenging times. These are the result of widespread consultation with education partners to ensure that the courses address important, relevant and meaningful learning for young people in these subjects. Well-being is one of the principles that underpins Junior Cycle education and is reflected in a number of the statements of learning that are central to planning for the student’s experience of and the evaluation of the schools Junior Cycle programme.
Well-being is mandatory in all primary schools as part of the SPHE curriculum. At primary level the SPHE curriculum is designed to foster children’s well-being, self-confidence and sense of belonging develops children’s sense of personal responsibility for their own behaviour and actions. It promotes children’s self-awareness and understanding by helping them to manage their own feelings, to recognise and appreciate individual abilities, and to cope with change of various kinds as well as supporting children to become active and responsible citizens.
