Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the implementation of guidelines in promoting mental health in primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18905/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Guidelines for primary schools on promoting well-being and mental health are currently being developed by my Department. It is expected that the guidelines will be available to primary schools in the autumn. These guidelines will complement 'Well-Being in Post- Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention' which was published jointly by my Department, the Department of Health and the HSE in 2013.

The primary school guidelines will complement existing measures to promote positive mental health at primary level. Such measures include the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme which is mandatory at primary level. The SPHE programme contains a number of specific aims that are relevant to positive mental health and well-being. These include promoting all aspects of the child's health, fostering in the child a sense of care and respect for himself/herself, and enabling the child to make informed decisions and choices about all aspects of life including health.

Primary schools are also encouraged to participate in the 'Health Promoting Schools' initiative, which is supported by the Department of Health. This European-wide programme aims to strengthen schools' capacity be a healthy setting for learning and working by focusing at whole-school level on all the conditions that affect health and well-being. The results from the second Lifeskills survey which were published by my Department in January of this year indicate that approximately 40% of respondent primary schools are currently in the Health Promoting Schools initiative or are in the process of joining. My Department is working with the Department of Health to increase participation among primary schools in this initiative.