Entering the new academic year with optimism and hope

As a new school year commences we are all aware that Society has changed and that the biggest impact of this change has been on children and young people.

While these changes have been beyond our control, how we respond is very much determined by ourselves. Tapping into our own resilience and supporting our children and young people to tap into their adaptability and resilience has never been more important.

Psychological resilience is the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis. How we define a crisis, how we define “ability”, and how we define “coping” will be different for each of us.

This year will require us to believe that we have the capacity to have inner emotional strength. From a children’s rights and child centred perspective we will seek to do all we can to help children and young people connect with their inner emotional strength particularly when they need to deal with what they perceive as trauma, adversity or challenge.

This, of course, has always been the role of teaching and the school community but there is no doubt that it will be more apparent and important this year. The mental health support and awareness initiatives we have been developing in our schools over the last number of years will stand to us now.

Of course we also enter the new academic year with optimism and hope. Some good things have emerged from the pandemic, not least our appreciation of out-doors, exercise and the things that make our school emotionally constructive and healthy.

This year will be a year for consolidating these positives. Uncertainty and doubt may have become integral to our lives but for many this has been accompanied by a slowing down and reprioritisation of what is important.

School plays a vital role in enhancing children and young people’s mental health. Teachers, special needs assistants, parents and pupils are the key education partners working to ensure that this year, as in every year, pupils and all connected with the school have positive emotional and psychological experiences. I wish you well in your essential work.