Supporting wellbeing in schools course

Tuesday, 11 October 2022

Promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools course is informed by emerging research, national and international policy, and best practice on promotion in schools. It has been developed in collaboration with young people, school leaders, and school staff.

Promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools

Course description

Promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools is a self-directed course. It is presented in four distinct modules, each module takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. Throughout the modules, there are opportunities for reflection and application of learning.

Promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools aims to provide school staff with:

Increased knowledge and understanding about youth mental health
Opportunities to reflect on the important role school staff have in promoting mental health and wellbeing in schools
Practical strategies to promote and support youth mental health in school
Enhanced confidence to deliver mental health and wellbeing education in the classroom.

To access the course, sign up now to our eLearning portal.

Watch a Q&A with Jigsaw’s Regional Schools Coordinator Ena, a former post-primary teacher, discussing her interaction with the course.

Youth mental health in Ireland

On completion of module one school staff will have an increased understanding of youth mental health.

Youth mental health promotion in the school environment

Module two contributes to school staff’s awareness of the school environment as an important place to promote and support youth mental health.

Strategies to support mental health and wellbeing

Module three provides strategies to support and promote mental health and wellbeing as part of school staff’s role in the school.

Supporting the delivery of classroom based mental health education.

Module four will develop school staff’s confidence in delivering educational content on mental health and wellbeing in school.

You can sign up using your email address and complete the modules at a time and pace that suits you.

On completion of all four modules you will receive a certificate of completion and gain exclusive access to Jigsaw’s Junior and Senior Cycle workshops on mental health. You will receive the presentations, resources, and guidance documents to assist you to deliver the workshops in the classroom.

To access the course, sign up now to our eLearning portal.

Questions from school staff

Q1. Is the course suitable for primary school teachers?

The course is suitable for all school staff including primary and post-primary teachers.

Q2. Can school staff access the modules in their own time?

School staff can access and complete the modules in their own time – it is a self directed course.

Q3. Does the course suit SPHE teachers only?

The course is designed for all school staff. All school staff play an important role in promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing in schools. The resources can be accessed by any member of school staff, including SPHE teachers and can be used in a way that meets the needs of individual schools.

Q4. How many resources are available on completion of the course?

2 x 40 minute Junior Cycle workshops or 1 x 60 minute alternative
2 x 40 minute Senior Cycle workshops or 1 x 60 minute alternative.
Each workshop has a workshop plan, presentation and learning resources.

Q5. Are the resources suitable for first years through to sixth years?

Workshops are split into Junior and Senior Cycle – not into year groups.

Q6. What are the learning outcomes for the workshops?
The learning outcomes for the junior and senior workshops are:
- Young people will explore what is meant by mental health
- Young people will consider what hurts and helps their mental health
- Young people will explore strategies for looking after their mental health
- Young people will consider the importance of seeking help for their mental health and where they can go for help if they need it.
The learning outcomes are the same for Junior and Senior Cycle but are explored in an age appropriate way.

Q7. Do you have information for parents?

There is a parents section on our website where there is a host of information, articles and courses such as:
self-care course for parents, Mental health awareness course for parents and recorded webinars that support young people and parents with family conflict, self-care and mental health.