To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of findings from the University of Stirling published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in January 2009, indicating that 13.8% of children self-harmed and a further 14.4% thought seriously about self-harm, what steps it has taken or will take to improve emotional literacy in schools.
The Scottish Government is supporting the development of emotional literacy in schools through legislation, curriculum development and specific projects.
The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 (the Act) imposes duties on the Scottish ministers, education authorities and managers of grant-aided schools to endeavour to ensure that public schools and grant-aided schools are health promoting. A health promoting school promotes the social, mental and emotional wellbeing of pupils in attendance at the school.
The new health and wellbeing curriculum area within Curriculum for Excellence aims to develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes necessary for mental and emotional wellbeing now and in the future. Curriculum for Excellence draft experiences and outcomes for health and wellbeing, taken together with the Health Promotion guidance which accompanies the Act, provide opportunities for schools to enhance the mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing of learners through lessons, extra curricular activities and by fostering a safe, caring, supportive, purposeful learning environment.
We also continue to fund a Development Officer post at Learning Teaching Scotland, which focuses on positive mental health and support for those experiencing mental health problems in the schools environment throughout Scotland. This complements action to support the Scottish Government commitment to ensure that mental health link workers are available to all schools.
In addition, the Scottish Government''s Positive Behaviour Team supports local authorities and schools to introduce and embed approaches to positive behaviour based on improved relationships, engagement and motivation, and emotional well being, such as Being Cool in School and the Growing Confidence Project.
The government has supported the FRIENDS programme which is a classroom based programme designed to promote children''s resilience. Stirling Council have established a training franchise for FRIENDS which is now available as a CPD opportunity for all school staff and partners across Scotland.
The Scottish Government also supports a resilience building project in Falkirk. The aim of the project is to develop a model of promoting emotional wellbeing in schools that will inform local and national developments. The project focuses on the transition between primary and secondary schools.