Guidelines on wellbeing and mental health at school

The critical role of wellbeing in children and adolescents for their academic success and overall life outcomes is increasingly acknowledged. Wellbeing emphasises the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses cognitive, social and emotional competencies at school.

Wellbeing in schools extends beyond individual teaching and learning, to encompass equity, diversity and multicultural understanding within the education system. Central to this approach is fostering a positive school climate, respectful relationships and supportive learning environments that promote empathy, compassion and resilience.

The decline in children's and adolescents' wellbeing, attributed to various factors including school pressure and social media, underscores the urgency for a whole-system, whole-school approach to mental health. This approach integrates universal support for all students with targeted interventions for those at risk, in collaboration with health professionals and community agencies.

The proposed framework emphasises key pillars, including curriculum, school environment, family involvement, student voices and staff wellbeing. These pillars are interconnected, and aim to nurture students' social and emotional competence while providing a supportive ecosystem for their overall wellbeing. Importantly, the approach recognises that wellbeing should not compromise educational quality and vice versa, positioning schools as crucial platforms for preparing young people for society while ensuring their holistic development.

All these and more have been captured in the recent guidelines for policymakers, school leaders, teachers and educators for addressing wellbeing and mental health at school, prepared by the European Commission’s informal expert group on enhancing supportive learning environments for vulnerable learners and for promoting wellbeing and mental health at school.