EUREGHA – the reference network of European Regional and Local Health Authorities, 
is pleased to invite you to the event:

Promoting mental wellbeing amongst children in schools: paving the way towards a more systematic approach

Virtual Event – 18 November – 10:00-11:30

Mental wellbeing is essential for the overall health and development of young children. Not ensuring mental health promotion early on can place a great burden on both the individual and the overall society. Social and emotional skills are therefore an important part of mental health promotion and schools have a fundamental role to play. Academic research shows that that Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programmes help children and have long-term results on the social wellbeing and academic achievements of children. It has also been demonstrated that students exposed to SEL activities feel safer and more connected to schools. Moreover, they build good working habits, social skills and stronger relationships with peers and teachers. All these factors contribute to the promotion of mental wellbeing in the young.

However, several shortcomings have been identified in using these programmes, which may compromise their sustainability and long-term effects.

Against this background, the Horizon 2020 BOOST project aims to create an innovative approach to strengthen social and emotional skills among children and young people in school, as to promote mental health and wellbeing. The overall aim of this project is to develop, implement, and test a new SEL-based population approach to promote mental health and wellbeing in primary school children.

COVID-19 has reshuffled the lives of many people and the effect on young children’s wellbeing should not be forgotten. As it is time to re-discuss the importance of SEL programmes and the overall wellbeing of young children, the BOOST consortium released a policy brief on the systematic work with policies to promote mental wellbeing among children in schools. The brief summarises some of the preliminary findings and lessons learned from the EU H2020 project BOOST. While the findings show that social and emotional wellbeing and learning is important in national educational policies and EU education policy, there is a need for systematic policy development to promote SEL-based learning at a school level. We therefore invite you to join us for the webinar to discuss the current state of the work of BOOST and the outcomes of the policy brief together with representatives from local authorities, schools, universities and the EU institutions.  The aim is to learn valuable lessons for the future, useful for the uptake of the BOOST project.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Vladimir Garkov, DG EAC, European Commission;
• Stine Hellum Braathen, Scientific Coordinator, BOOST project, SINTEF;
• Ase Marit Hovden, BOOST project partner, Viken County;
• Ingrid Stegeman, Programme Manager, Eurohealthnet;
• Kjetil Lundemoen, Head of Development, Modum Municipality;
• Agata Wiza, Associate Professor, Poznan; University School of Physical Education;
• Eva Romera, Associate Professor, University of Cordoba