Counselling and Mental Health Pilot in Primary Schools: Strand 2

The Counselling and Mental Health Pilot in Primary Schools: Strand 2, has introduced new mental health supports into schools called Education Wellbeing Teams. The teams comprise, Education Wellbeing Practitioners working under the direction and supervision of NEPS Psychologists. The Education Wellbeing Teams are working in clusters of primary and special schools in Carlow, Cork, Dublin 7 and Dublin 16. Education Wellbeing Teams are working in schools with children, school staff and parents.

The focus of their work is:

• Strengthening whole school preventative approaches to promoting wellbeing and mental health, in line with the Department of Education’s Wellbeing Policy and Framework for Practice.
• Offering psycho-educational support for parents, school staff and children.
• Providing prevention and early intervention to children, using therapeutic approaches and evidence-based interventions, to prevent and address mild or emerging wellbeing needs.