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Using health and well-being data to support improvements in mental health in schools
Welcome to the SHINE May 2024 Newsletter
- SHINE Conference 2024 Report, slides and resources
- HBSC International report focusing on adolescent physical activity, eating behaviours, weight status and body image in Europe, central Asia and Canada.
- HBSC Classroom resources for schools
- Notice about SHINE Mental Health survey closure for redevelopment
- Invitation to participate in SHINE affiliated research projects
- NEW: Neurodiversity in Scottish Schools
- CLOCK OFF - access to free sleep training for your school
- National evaluation of the Equally Safe at School programme
- Other events and research opportunities for school communities:
- Study on the impact of Long Covid in teaching and other public service occupations in Scotland - invitation to join
- Study seeking to recruit young people to study loneliness
- SOCITS: Socially Situated Systems approach to adolescent mental health
SHINE Conference 2024 Report
The 5th annual SHINE National Network Event took place in Clarice Pears on Thursday 2nd May, with the theme ‘Using health and wellbeing evidence in school improvement planning to support positive health outcomes for young people”. Around 95 teachers, researchers, PhD students and education policy professionals attended.
Colleagues from the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, as well as the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh provided excellent insights into their research and were able to network with teachers to discuss future projects and invite participation.
Dr Tessa Reardon, Oxford University, set the tone for the day by explaining how research methods had been used to identify and minimise anxiety in young children working with primary schools and parents/carers. Dr Jo Inchley and Dr Judith Brown (SHINE) provided an excellent overview of the national and international evidence gathered through the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey 2022. Professor Kirstin Mitchell presented initial findings from the Equally Safe at School (ESAS) Study which aims to prevent Gender-based Violence, followed by an excellent case study from Selkirk High School who are using the ESAS programme. A second case study from Bishopbriggs Academy explained the SHINE Mental Health survey data report is being used to plan improvements in mental health and wellbeing, with excellent inputs from 4 pupil Mental Health Ambassadors.
The SHINE team led interactive sessions and discussions to promote collaboration between schools and health researchers and an understanding of how research expertise can support an evidence-based approach to improvement planning in schools. The day ended with a chance for teachers to trial a new classroom resource exploring the power of data linkage from the Generation Scotland team led by Professor Heather Whalley.
We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet network members and research colleagues to share ideas and practice. We look forward to next year.
HBSC International report focusing on adolescent physical activity, eating behaviours, weight status and body image in Europe, central Asia and Canada.
This report examines the status of moderate- to-vigorous and vigorous physical activity, physical inactivity, food and drink consumption, over- and underweight and body image among adolescents, explores the role of gender, age and social inequality and identifies how these adolescent behaviours have changed over time. Findings from the 2021/2022 HBSC survey provide an important evidence benchmark for current research, intervention and policy-planning
HBSC classroom resources for schools
These briefings from the HBSC Scotland 2022 study summarise key findings on a range of indicators, including trends over time. They are intended to be used as a classroom based resource with a number of questions included to stimulate discussion within the class setting.
- Young people's experiences of bullying and cyberbullying in Scotland
- Anxiety among young people in Scotland
- Trends in young people's substance use in Scotland
Important notice for members about schools' access to the SHINE mental health - closure for redevelopment
Please note that the current version of the mental health survey will cease to operate from 1st June 2024. The survey is being moved to a different platform and all associated documents will be updated and relaunched towards the end of September 2024 following a pilot with 2-3 schools in the early Autumn.
Invitation to participate in SHINE affiliated research projects
Trial a new intervention, evaluate a programme or test a new method of collecting data. Work with researchers in your school to find solutions to YP HWB challenges.
"Calling All Teachers: Join Our Study on Neurodiversity in Scottish Schools!
Are you a teacher in a Scottish school and interested in taking part in a research study about creating inclusive classrooms? The University of Glasgow invites educators of all grades and experience levels to participate in a qualitative study as part of the Neurodiversity in Scottish Schools (NISS) project.
We aim to understand how teachers identify and support neurodivergent children, uncovering both facilitators and barriers to their learning experience. Your insights will shape future strategies for fostering inclusive environments where every child can thrive.
Participation is simple: engage in a 45-minute online interview at a time convenient for you. Your valuable perspective will help drive positive change in educational practices across Scotland.
To sign up or learn more, contact Jason Lang at Jason.Lang@glasgow.ac.uk. Together, let's empower our classrooms to embrace neurodiversity and unlock the full potential of every student."
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. For more information click here.
The ESAS team will be presenting some of their findings so far, alongside a DHT and PTPS from Selkirk High School who will be sharing their ESAS case study at the SHINE National Network Event on 2nd May.
Other events and research opportunities for school communities
Join our study on the impact of Long Covid in teaching and other public service occupations in Scotland.
Researchers from the Universities of Stirling and Glasgow, Robert Gordon University and the Scottish Ambulance Service are carrying out a study about the impacts of Long Covid on people working in public sector teaching, nursing, ambulance, and police services in Scotland.
We’d like to hear from you if you are one of the following:
- A public sector school teacher who has, or has recovered from, Long Covid (even if you are on sick leave or have had to change role/job since having Long Covid).
- A public sector school teacher who works with or has worked with someone affected by Long Covid.
- Responsible for managing school teachers who have been affected by Long Covid or you plan service delivery in public sector education services in Scotland.
What happens if you take part?
- Taking part will involve doing a one-to-one confidential interview with a researcher lasting around 45-60 mins. (We can do a couple of shorter interviews with you if this suits you better). These will usually be online or on the phone.
- All the interview questions are optional, so you can choose not to answer any of the questions and are free to stop at any time.
You will be offered a £20 voucher as a thank you for taking part.
Study seeking to recruit young people to study loneliness
The Generation Scotland and Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences teams are delighted to announce the launch of the 'Loneliness in the Digital World' study co-produced by young people. This study uses Ecological Momentary Assessment technology to track feelings of loneliness and mood, to help uncover how different types of online/offline interactions affect youth mental health. The study was recently covered on STV news, more details are available here. They now need 200 young people aged 12-15 years to join and would be grateful if you can help to spread the word in any way or have family members who may be interested in joining. Please get in touch for more information, email genscot@ed.ac.uk.
Who, what, where & why of stress and loneliness in schools. Invitation to join SOCITS.
The SOCITS project (a Socially Situated Systems approach to adolescent mental health) aims to find out which places, interactions and social situations in school are associated with stress, loneliness, and poor mental health. This information can inform whole school approaches to mental health.
Using novel survey measures, SOCITS will ask questions such as: Which situations in school cause the most loneliness? Do certain groups of students find specific situations more or less stressful? Do peer groups amplify or reduce exam stress?
Participating schools invite all students from the same year group (e.g. all S1, S3 or S6) to fill in an online survey in a single period. Two follow up surveys will explore the causes of stress and loneliness in more detail as well as looking at changes in mental health.
SOCITS schools will receive individual reports, and the SOCITS team can facilitate staff-student workshops in your school to discuss study findings and inform health improvement plans.
All the best,
The SHINE Team
Dawn Haughton
Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement Research Network (SHINE) Manager
E-mail: Dawn.Haughton@glasgow.ac.uk
Web: www.gla.ac.uk/shine
Twitter: @ScotlandSHINE
