Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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286. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the drafting of guidelines for schools in relation to mental health in the State's education system; if he will provide a provisional timeline on the planned publication of the guidelines and further actions that will follow from same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18924/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can inform the Deputy that, in conjunction with my colleague Minister of State Kathleen Lynch, I was pleased to announce at the end of January this year, the publication of the Well-Being in Post-Primary Schools – Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention. The Guidelines have been developed to bring coherence to and build upon the multitude of practices that are already in place in schools to promote well-being. The content of the Guidelines draw together existing elements and structures that are in place in post-primary schools - the SPHE curriculum, the whole-school guidance plan and the NEPS Continuum of Support Framework. They provide clear evidence-based advice for schools on the effective and coherent integration of structures and systems to assist schools with the task of whole-school implementation.

The Guidelines emphasise the need to integrate all elements by using a coordinated whole-school approach in the promotion of positive mental health. This involves building and integrating school self-evaluation processes, implementing the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, developing the whole-school guidance plan, adopting the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) continuum of support, and building effective inter-agency relationships. Support for schools will be integrated into existing CPD work plans for the SPHE support service and will be coordinated nationally in collaboration with NEPS and HSE to ensure a streamlined approach. Copies of the Guidelines have been circulated to schools authorities.