Supporting the mental health and well-being of refugee children in school

Helen Cowie is Emerita Professor at the University of Surrey, in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. She is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Chartered Counselling Psychologist. She has researched and published widely in the field of anti-bullying interventions at school and university, as well as books and articles on the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people, including a book of stories and lesson plans to teach inclusivity and social issues (with Ffion Jones and Harriet Tenenbaum) A School for Everyone by Helen Cowie | Hachette UK (2022). Currently, she is a member of an expert group advising the European Commission on the promotion of well-being, enhancement of mental health and resilience, and the prevention of bullying in schools throughout Europe.

Ilse Derluyn is full professor at the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy at Ghent University (Belgium). Her main research topics concern the psychosocial wellbeing of war-affected children, young refugees and migrants, unaccompanied refugee minors and victims of trafficking. She has widely published and is also active in trainings and support for practitioners, including teachers, social workers, and health staff. She also gives counselling to refugees. Ilse is ERC-grant holder of the research project ChildMove and coordinates the H2020-project RefugeesWellSchool. She is director of the Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees (CESSMIR) at Ghent University and co-director of the Centre for Children in Vulnerable Situations.