Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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711. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of providing training for all teachers at post-primary level in the mental health and emotional wellbeing aspect of the Social, Personal and Health Education Curriculum, in order to ensure that teachers are skilled to deal with the problems faced by students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23353/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health and to supporting those with a broad range of problems - behavioural, emotional and social who might be considered within the broad term of mental health difficulties.

The processes span the curriculum in schools, whole-school ethos, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care and the provision of professional development for teachers. It also involves other supports such as educational psychological services, guidance and counselling services, and the interface with other agencies, both nationally and locally.

Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is supported by comprehensive teacher guidelines and curriculum support services which provide training and advice for schools. My Department has also issued guidelines to schools on the development of whole-school policies in areas such as anti-bullying, relationship and sexuality education, substance misuse, managing critical incidents and whole-school guidance planning which are also important in promoting positive mental health.

Well-being in Post-Primary Schools: Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention (2013) were launched in January 2013. The Guidelines are for all members of the school community, boards of management and in-school management teams who play a central leadership role in mental health promotion. The Guidelines provide practical guidance on how post-primary schools can promote mental health and well-being and school connectedness in an integrated way. The Guidelines also provide evidence-based advice on how to support young people who may be at risk of suicidal behaviour. Information is also provided on accessing support from external agencies and support services.

The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), has a dedicated team of ten full-time personnel focusing on health and well-being, with the goal of helping schools to develop and promote students' mental, emotional, social, sexual, personal and physical health and well-being in the context of a positive health-promoting school environment.

The suite of support available to post-primary teachers include three seminar days on Mental Health:-

- Day One 'Introduction to promoting positive mental health and well-being' addresses mental health and the supports available to young people. - Day Two 'Change, loss and bereavement' looks at how these issues affect young peoples wellbeing and addresses ways of supporting young people. - Day Three 'Mental health issues affecting young people' includes topics such as body image, self harm, eating disorders, phobias and depression.

These courses are available to post-primary teachers through the Education Centre network at a regional level.

Schools can also request support in this area directly from the PDST.