No images? Click here ![]() Using health and well-being data to support improvements in mental health in schools![]() Welcome to the SHINE October 2023 Newsletter
HBSC international mental health report launchThe Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study provides unique insights into the health and well-being of adolescents across Europe, central Asia and Canada. In this, the study's 40th anniversary year, the 11th consecutive international survey reports will be released in a series of topic-based volumes. The first volume "Mental Health and Wellbeing" was released by the WHO Regional Office for Europe on 10th October, World Mental Health day. Findings show that adolescent girls have worse mental health and well-being across the board compared to boys. Jo Inchley (Principal Investigator of SHINE) is the International Coordinator of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, which monitors the health behaviours and social environments of nearly 280,000 boys and girls aged 11, 13 and 15 years from 44 countries. The report, ‘Focus on adolescent mental health and well-being in Europe, Central Asia and Canada’, is based on data from the HBSC survey 2021/2022. Jo presented at the launch event in Athens which was chaired by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. Invitation to the SHINE teachers' panel workshop on sharing data reports with young peopleSHINE Teachers' Panel workshop: Wed 15th November 2023 16.00-17.00pm The first workshop for the 2023-24 session will focus on sharing mental health and wellbeing data reports with young people. The workshop will include:
Simple classroom ideas to promote discussions with young people about positive mental health and wellbeingSHINE is always keen to hear young people’s opinions and share ideas about the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing. A former pupil from SHINE school, Cults Academy, has recently created a blog "Roaming reviews" about her travel experiences in Scotland using public transport and the under 22 free bus pass to access green spaces. Health research has shown that regularly accessing green spaces and doing physical exercise is good for positive mental health and wellbeing. Young people can share their own free journeys to access green spaces around Scotland via the blog comments or this activity could be replicated in schools to promote access to the benefits of exercise and accessing green spaces. Jess writes: "Growing up can be stressful and it can be easy to get overwhelmed and just lay in your bed. I spent a lot of time in the hills as a teenager as it provided me with an escape from my busy life. I could get out into the fresh air to relax and not worry about school, my exams, my career pathway. When I was still in school, I had to pay for the bus out to the hills! However, now I make full use of my under 22 free bus pass to explore, in a sustainable way, the city I have moved to for university,." Create a wall of wellbeing ![]() Visitors to the Byres Road Community Hub in the School of Health and Wellbeing were recently asked "What does wellbeing mean to you?" and were invited to share their ideas on a wall of wellbeing. A simple way to start conversations and share ideas about what influences young people's wellbeing and get them thinking and talking about which factors can be prioritised to make improvements to personal and community wellbeing. Invitation to participate in SHINE affiliated research projectsTrial a new intervention, evaluate a programme or test a new method of collecting data. An opportunity to work with researchers in your school to find solutions to YP HWB challenges.![]() ![]() If you would like to discuss this opportunity, please contact the Principal Investigator: kirstin.mitchell@glasgow.ac.uk . Kirstin will be delighted to walk you through what's involved for schools. Invitation to join the National Evaluation of the Equally Safe at School (ESAS) programme in secondary schools. Many Scottish schools are dealing with the fall-out from misogynistic influencers such as Andrew Tate, or are struggling with an increase in disclosures of sexual harassment. ESAS is designed to help schools build a positive culture in which staff and students work together on these issues. Designed by Rape Crisis it takes a whole school approach, strongly complements MVP, and is free to schools. ESAS involves a self-assessment, staff training, a student-led action group and curriculum and policy review. The national evaluation is being run by a research team at the University of Glasgow. Schools across Scotland have been joining up but there are still a few spaces left. The benefit of being part of the national evaluation includes that the research team at University of Glasgow will collect the student self-assessment data on your behalf; they will support you in getting started and staying involved in ESAS and you'll be part of a larger cohort of schools undertaking ESAS. For more information click here. Other research events, opportunities and resources for school communities![]() Invitation to join the Harnessing social relationships to promote adolescent mental wellbeing study Mental wellbeing is critical for adolescents to balance emotions, build and maintain relationships with others and overcome hardships in life. Having good mental wellbeing means young people feel confident, have good self-esteem and feel happy. The Curriculum for Excellence highlights it as one of the four factors that are essential for successful learning. However, adolescents from more disadvantaged background usually have worse mental wellbeing than those from more affluent areas. Social relationships and support from people around them, such as family, school, friends, and the community they live in, can help reduce the impact of deprivation on adolescent mental wellbeing. My PhD study will explore how we can bring all community stakeholders together (including families, schools, and the wider community) to strengthen social relationships and support in the neighbourhood for young people’s mental wellbeing. The output of this study will be a framework for intervention that will be helpful for schools to develop their own projects targeting pupils’ mental wellbeing through enhancing school and/or community connectedness. I would like to work with one secondary school where the majority of pupils come from more disadvantaged backgrounds. If you are interested to discuss this opportunity please contact me via email p.doan.1@research.gla.ac.uk. I am Nhung Doan – 2nd year PhD student at the University of Glasgow. ![]() Join us for the 2023 Festival of Social Science on Saturday 4 November The Festival of Social Science explores the world of social science, from how society has shaped our local areas to behaviours that help fight climate change. The theme for this year's festival will focus on lifelong wellbeing, exploring mental and physical health at all ages and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS. This year the University of Glasgow is running a wide-range of free activities for all ages, including walking tours, workshops and a chance to meet our researchers to learn more about their work. The majority of our activities will take place in Glasgow at Byres Community Hub and Advanced Research Centre on Saturday 4 November from 11am. This is a free, public event, open to everyone. Visit the ESRC website to see the full programme of activities being hosted by the University of Glasgow. All the best, The SHINE Team Dawn Haughton E-mail: Dawn.Haughton@glasgow.ac.uk |