Emotional Health and Wellbeing
Advice and guidance on emotional health and wellbeing
Children & Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework
The Department of Education and Department of Health jointly published the Children & Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework was launched on 26 February 2021.
The main emphasis of the Framework is to support educational settings to promote emotional health and wellbeing at a universal level, through a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach, building resilience to enable our children and young people to cope with challenges they may face in life and providing early and enhanced support for those who may be at risk or showing signs of needing further help.
- Children & Young People's Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework (final version)
- Children & Young People's Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework (Easy Read)
- Children & Young People's Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework (Equality and Human Rights Policy Screening)
- Children & Young People's Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework (Guide to Rural Needs Act NI)
The Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG), formerly known as the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), is in the process of developing the ‘Children and Young People’s Emotional Health & Wellbeing Framework in Health’ that will align with the Education Framework. Both Frameworks present an opportunity to join services together in a way that improves access and delivers a more positive experience of services for the benefit of children and young people and their families and as such are complementary.
An implementation plan was developed in 2021 based on priorities identified by the Department of Education and its partners in the Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework.
The following services and projects have been established under the Framework:
RISE NI (Regional Integrated Support for Education)
Expansion of the health led multi-professional early intervention team (up to primary 7). Support provided from this team includes support for children and young people with emotional health and wellbeing needs including those related to speech, language and communication needs; and/or sensory, motor or perceptual difficulties.
Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools (EWTS)
A health-led multi-disciplinary team working with mainstream post-primary settings (including EOTAS) to promote emotional health and wellbeing and ensure schools are aware of appropriate pathways for support, including those within their local area, and when referrals for CAMHS based interventions are appropriate.
- Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools - (external link opens in a new window/tab)
Being Well Doing Well (BWDW)
An EA led programme which aims to assist all schools (including EOTAS) to develop a Whole School Approach (WSA) to emotional health and wellbeing (EHW). This approach will provide participating schools with a framework to assess current policy and practice and implement actions to develop EHW in their school. In addition, schools will receive training to provide staff with the knowledge, skills and confidence to understand and promote EHW in their school.
Completed Projects
CCEA Wellbeing Hub – this hub provides curriculum linked resources and support for teachers and parents.
REACH – the REACH project ended in March 2026, it was an Education Authority Youth Service programme for 6-19 year olds to develop positive emotional health and resilience.
TAP – The Attach Programme is part of the Education Authority Primary Children Looked After Advisory Service (Primary Children Looked After Advisory Service(external link opens in a new window / tab)
Text-a-Nurse – the Text-a-Nurse service ended in March 2025. This provided a secure and confidential text messaging service for young people aged 11-19, parents/carers and school staff, with access to a school nurse for advice and support.
School Nursing Pilot - the PHA led school nursing pilot ended in December 2024, the pilot operated in 5 post-primary schools across NI (one in each health trust), with a school nurse located in the school. The participating schools were Mercy College, Belfast; Abbey College, Newtownabbey; St Patrick’s College, Dungannon; Lisneal College, Londonderry; St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan.
Effective Practice in Educational Settings - this document shares emotional health and wellbeing effective practice from ETI Case Studies and includes useful signposting/links.
Support and Resources
Other programmes, services and resources available to schools include:
HOPE Service - The Holistic Options for Promoting Resilience Independent School Counselling and Therapy Service is available to young people in post-primary schools. The service commenced in September 2024 (previous service known as the Independent Counselling Service for Schools (ICSS)) and is there to provide a ‘listening ear’ and works as an integral part of a school’s pastoral care system to help provide this support to pupils. Referrals for counselling/therapy sessions can be made by pupils, parents/carers or school staff.
Further information on the service and for schools is available on the Education Authority website.
- School Counselling and Therapy (HOPE Service) | Education Authority Northern Ireland
- HOPE Service - Information for Schools | Education Authority Northern Ireland
Critical Incident Response Team – A critical incident may be defined as any sudden and unexpected incident or sequence of events which causes trauma within a school community and which overwhelms the normal coping mechanisms of that school.
The Education Authority has a critical incident response team who can be contacted to provide support to schools and guidance is available (currently under review) to help schools proactively prepare for and respond to critical incidents.
- Managing a Critical Incident | Education Authority Northern Ireland)
- Management of Critical Incidents in Educational Settings | Education Authority Northern Ireland.
Self Harm & Suicide Guidance – guidance (updated August 2026) is available to schools on recognising, responding to and supporting pupils experiencing emotional distress, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
- Listen, Support, Connect: Guidance on Self-Harm and Suicide in Educational Settings | Education Authority Northern Ireland
- EA Nurture in Education programme(external link opens in a new window / tab)
There are many sources of information for children, young people and their parents / families on emotional health and wellbeing, some of which can be found below:
- Your child’s mental health | nidirect)
- Take 5 steps to wellbeing (English and translations) | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
- Northern Ireland | Togetherness - Togetherness (free online courses for building emotional resilience using code: NIFAMILIES)
- Youth Wellness Web – Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) (hscni.net)
- Directory of services to help improve mental health and emotional wellbeing | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
- Our Generation App (Peace IV funded project) - play games, collect stars & learn about mental health and resilience! Download from Google Play or Apple Store
Emotional Health and Wellbeing Flyer
The various supports and services, to support the emotional health and wellbeing of children and young people in school (including EOTAS), are outlined in a flyer.
DE Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Surveys
The Department published two surveys in February 2024 seeking information on what educational settings do to support and promote emotional health and wellbeing of pupils and what services, programmes and training are available to schools from community, voluntary and private providers.
iMatter Programme
The iMatter programme including self-assessment audit tool preceded the Emotional Health and Wellbeing in Education Framework. The Being Well Doing Well Programme includes a self-assessment audit tool as part of a wider package of support. Further information on Being Well Doing Well can be found on the EA website: Being Well Doing Well