Children’s mental health charity Place2Be has partnered with St Mary’s University College in Belfast to ensure that the College’s student teachers are well-equipped with the knowledge, skills and understanding to support their pupils’ mental health.
Starting in September 2018, 150 final year student teachers at the University College took part in Place2Be’s Continued Professional Development (CPD) accredited Mental Health Champions – Class Teacher programme, potentially benefiting thousands of children and young people. The training was provided over three two-day sessions:
Session 1: 18-20 September
Session 2: 16-18 October
Session 3: 13-14 November
This independently evaluated programme has been proven to increase new teachers’ ability and confidence in identifying and supporting pupils with mental health needs, as well as improving personal wellbeing for teachers.
According to a survey conducted earlier this year by The Prince’s Trust, forty-four percent of 16-25 year olds in Northern Ireland say they have experienced a mental health problem.
This partnership represents Place2Be’s first venture in Northern Ireland. The charity, founded in 1994, currently works with hundreds of primary and post-primary schools across England, Scotland and Wales providing school-based support and in-depth training programmes to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils, families, teachers and school staff.
The programme in Belfast has been made possible thanks to a generous grant from The Queen’s Trust. St Mary’s was introduced to Place2Be by graduate classical soprano, Margaret Keys from Derry.
Catherine Roche, Chief Executive at Place2Be said:
“We’re thrilled to be working with St Mary’s University College on this vital project. Our experience of working in United Kingdom schools has shown that teachers desperately want to support their pupils, but often lack the confidence or knowledge about where to start. We don’t believe that teachers should have to become mental health experts, but by empowering them with the right tools and skills, we can ensure that more children and young people across Northern Ireland and beyond get the support they urgently need.”
Dr Martin Hagan, FHEA, Head of Education at St Mary’s University College said:
“Children’s mental health has become an issue of growing concern in Northern Ireland with more than twenty percent of young people reported as suffering significant problems before they reach the age of eighteen. Working with the experts from Place2Be provides the student teachers at St Mary’s with an excellent opportunity to raise their awareness and understanding of this most important aspect of professional learning and practice. We are delighted to be in partnership with Place2Be and believe that this initiative will help ensure that our future teachers will be able to provide young people across Northern Ireland with the understanding, support and care they deserve at the most vulnerable points in their lives”.
Education Correspondent, Simon Doyle, included coverage of the St Mary's/Place2Be partnership in The Irish News on 28 November.
