The health-promoting school
The promotion of positive mental health can be encouraged by the school organization demonstrating that it values every member of the community, staff, students, parents and governors. Opportunities for success can be created and celebrated for all pupils in a variety of areas, not just academic achievement or sporting ability.

Healthy lifestyles
It can be difficult to value yourself, to identify your emotional and social needs and to ensure they are fulfilled in order to lead a contented life. This is probably most difficult during adolescence, when physical, emotional and social changes, peer influence and school pressures coincide to make this a stressful period of life. Actions and reactions established before and during adolescence will contribute to future mental health.

Attitudes
There is a stigma attached to mental illness and occasional insensitive approaches to young people who are suffering from emotional and social difficulties. Many teachers may feel ignorant about mental health issues and feel that they are neither trained nor supported in this area.

Information
Young people's understanding of mental health issues is likely to be minimal and their attitudes based on myth and prejudice.

Skills
In order to improve mental well-being, the ability to express feelings, as well as general personal and social skills, needs to be developed to enhance self-esteem and to manage the stress associated with modern life.

Active learning
Classroom techniques that encourage expression of feelings and discussion of relevant issues in a comfortable and confidential setting will help to explore and understand the situation. Drama conventions are particularly useful.