How do we create a society that is more compassionate, emotionally healthy, and fair? Mick Cooper of the Therapy and Social Change Network believes a big part of achieving this is creating schools where children and young people can learn to understand themselves and others: to develop with the emotional and interpersonal skills to thrive in today’s world.
On 25th April, Emma and Eva in the McPin Young People’s team, were invited to speak to over 120 people at the Network’s Emotionally Healthy Schools: Engaging the Therapy Professions online event. The event’s aim was to bring more people together to discuss this theme, and to look at how we can campaign for more emotionally healthy schools.
Opening with a lived experience panel, the attendees heard from three young people and one parent to two young people about their experiences in school. The panel drew on those experiences when interrogating the question: “what makes an emotionally healthy school?”
When reflecting on the event, Emma Garavini from McPin said:
“By opening the event with the voices and experiences of those with lived experience I found it grounded and centred the event and discussion in what was most important…everyone felt equally as invested and interested in coming together to discuss what children and young people need in school to feel emotionally, safe, seen and supported.
There is so much power in young people’s experiences and voices, and we want to platform that at McPin. Something I have been working on is building connections with schools so I can speak directly to young people about our work. We would like them to get involved and use their voices and experiences to make a real difference, whether that’s through getting involved in one of our Young People’s Advisory Groups and working on research projects or speaking at a workshop or event.
We can also offer schools research-informed information about young people’s mental health and provide opportunities for their students to develop skills in research, as well as skills “outside the classroom” such as relationship building and speaking about your experiences.”
Platforming lived-experience voices
Some members of our Young People’s Advisory Group sat on the event’s lived experience panel:
Lowenna:
“I told my story of struggling with my mental health in secondary school and the lack of support available. I really enjoyed listening to the other speakers on this panel, as we all had such diverse and unique experiences which helped to set the tone for the rest of the event.
Two main things stood out for me. Firstly, everyone was incredibly supportive. Many people put kind messages in the chat after I presented. This made a big difference as it was my first time presenting to such a big audience.
Secondly, I found it reassuring and (unfortunately) surprising how much the adults at the event care about students’ emotional wellbeing in school. When I was in school, it was rare that we talked about the needs of students beyond academics. There are lots of teachers in my family, so I grew up listening to conversations about school, but the focus was nearly always on the problems staff were facing, not students. I don’t doubt at all that teachers are having a very hard time, but students are too, and this event was the first time I’ve heard an adult openly express how much they care about the wellbeing of students. ”
Jummy:
“There was a variety of people presenting at and attending the event and it was great to see a consensus from everyone at the event that the education system in the UK needs to be improved.
The event was overall positive as it was very collaborative. Everyone was working together to find possible solutions to the education crisis in a safe space. We were hopeful for change in the education system.
I would like to see more events happen to follow up and continue the work started on Friday – young people should be involved in facilitating and planning these events.
I would also like to see a petition sent to parliament as part of the campaign - this was mentioned by the group live at the event. I would like young people actively writing and contributing to this petition.”
What’s next?
Mick Cooper’s shared that in his experience, and in the experiences of so many people the Network talks to “schools end up being a place full of painful and upsetting memories.” Mick doesn’t believe it needs to be this way, so the Therapy and Social Change Network aims to set up a campaign to encourage the government to put emotional health and wellbeing at the heart of our education system .
Discover the Therapy and Social Change Network’s forthcoming seminars as well as their past seminar recordings.
Discover the Therapy and Social Change Network’s forthcoming seminars as well as their past seminar recording
