Better Mental Health in Schools

Better Mental Health in Schools recognises the value of school staff in supporting mental health in children and young people and introduces new skills for enhancing the therapeutic benefits of environments and relationships in schools. This book discusses and links to provision in schools and to supporting good mental health in pupils across four key areas for enhancing mental health and wellbeing - Cognition, Compassion, Containment, and Connection. Based in relevant and timely research it provides an accessible insight into practical ways to change practice. Rather than prescribe one programme, or suggest one curriculum design, the book shows how strengthening knowledge and understanding of some basic underpinnings of good mental health will scaffold the development of better mental health in schools and offers illustrations of how that could look in everyday practice. Written for practitioners and based on many years of experience in classrooms across a variety of education provisions, this book reflects the lived, experiential perspective of a teacher and school therapist. Through paying attention to these four key areas of daily life in school, staff can create an environment that supports mental wellbeing, while not depleting their own mental health.

Alison Woolf is a teacher and play therapist. Her experience includes teaching in university, secondary, primary, early years, and special school settings. As a school play therapist, she has worked in mainstream and in SEMH provision, as well as working with looked after and adopted children. Alison is a director of Better Play Ltd which offers training for school teams in: counselling skills in schools, trauma, attachment, and therapeutic play.

1. The role of schools in addressing mental health and well-being, 2. Cognition, 3. Compassion, 4. Containment, 5. Connection, 6. What are schools for?