Support for rising challenges to mental health, well-being in school communities

Mater Boni Consilii St Joseph School, Paola, recently signed a collaboration agreement with Minds Ahead, an award-winning English social enterprise that aims to revolutionise mental health in schools and colleges by developing an education workforce with the knowledge and skills to effectively support the mental health of pupils, staff, parents, and school leaders.

The agreement was signed after weeks of negotiations and discussions by the school’s headmaster Kenneth Vella and Dean Johnstone, Minds Ahead chief executive officer.

Mater Boni Consilii St Joseph School headmaster Kenneth Vella

Vella said research had shown that COVID-19 and other challenges had definitely left a mark on people’s psychological and mental health, and educators and students were no exception. “Minds Ahead will be assisting our educational entity in supporting the mental health of our members of staff and the school community in general, not only through ongoing consultations but also through training of teachers, parents and students alike. We are also willing to extend the benefits of the agreement with other Maltese educational institutions.”

Vella pointed out that the agreement complemented other...