Mental Health Matters: Six-session programme for youth workers.
Mental Health Matters is a six-session training programme designed by The City of Edinburgh Council Mental Health Team and shared by Youth Scotland with permission.
Youth workers play an important role in creating safe, supportive relationships and helping young people navigate the challenges they may face. However, supporting others also requires an understanding of mental health, brain development, trauma, resilience and the importance of looking after your own wellbeing.
The programme offers a practical and accessible introduction to the key factors that can influence mental and emotional wellbeing. Through discussion, reflection and interactive activities, participants will develop their understanding of how young people think, feel and respond to the world around them.
Sessions:
- Introducing Mental Health: Explore what we mean by mental health and emotional wellbeing, challenge common assumptions and consider the factors that can affect a young person’s mental health.
- Exploring Brain Development: Develop your understanding of how the brain grows and changes, particularly during adolescence, considering how brain development can influence emotions, behaviour and decision-making.
- Managing Stress and Anxiety: Explore how stress and anxiety can affect young people and learn practical approaches that can help them feel calmer, safer and better able to cope.
- Understanding Attachment and Trauma: An introduction to attachment and trauma to help you understand how early experiences can influence relationships, behaviour, emotional regulation and wellbeing.
- Building Resilience and Healing: Explore the protective factors that can help young people recover from difficult experiences, strengthen resilience and develop positive coping strategies.
- Looking After Your Wellbeing: Reflect on the emotional demands of youth work and explore practical ways to protect your own wellbeing, manage stress and maintain healthy professional boundaries.
Learning outcomes:
- Increase your understanding of mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Explore how brain development can influence young people’s behaviour and emotions
- Develop an awareness of stress, anxiety, attachment and trauma
- Identify practical ways to support resilience and recovery
- Build confidence in responding sensitively to young people
- Recognise the importance of self-care and professional wellbeing