Ensuring Social and Emotional Well-being

Schools are an ideal setting to support the social and emotional well-being of students and offer resources and opportunities to build resilience. When schools support social and emotional well-being, students typically have fewer disciplinary issues, can focus more on school work, and can develop skills to communicate better. This can translate to improved academic outcomes and better health later in life.

“Deeply committed to international and intercultural understanding, Verita International School, a member of the Council of International Schools, provides an academically engaging, inquiry-based educational approach. Our responsibility is to whole-heartedly assist our students to develop the social-emotional and academic skills necessary to live meaningful, fulfilled, and happy lives,” Richard Joannides, founder of Verita International School.

A setting that promotes social and emotional well-being and resilience is particularly important for students who face challenges at home or have a history of stressful or traumatic events in their youth, commonly referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Supporting students in this way can lead to better health and educational outcomes for individuals while also creating a positive school environment for all.

“Verita ensures that kindness is the center of everything we do. Deeply committed to international and intercultural understanding, Verita provides an academically engaging, inquiry-based educational approach. Our responsibility is to whole-heartedly assist our students to develop the social-emotional and academic skills necessary to live meaningful, fulfilled, and happy lives,” says Richard Joannides, founder of Verita International School.

Practical advice from teachers

The below step-by-step guide includes thoughts and advice from teachers active in various educational institutions that are well-known around the world.

1. Be approachable

“Try to be empathetic and approachable, and remember that a student’s front stage performance may not reflect what they are really feeling. This can be easier than you might think, as often the most important factor in whether a student will feel welcomed or not is if a staff member knows their name. You are not expected to deal with any problem a student has, but it is important that they do not become isolated or slip through the net.” (Chris Till, senior lecturer in social science, Leeds Beckett University)

2. Know when not to engage with support

“It is not just about giving more support but knowing where the boundaries are, and when not to engage with support – this is not the same as being unsupportive. You can get too many people engaged with supporting one student, which can take up all the student’s time.” (Deborah Green, head of student support and wellbeing, Sheffield University)

3. Don’t be afraid of tears

“Academics’ shouldn’t feel like they need to be an expert or counsellor. If a student approaches you it’s because they think you can help, so spare some time however busy you are. If you can do that for just five minutes, it makes all the difference. Students’ will then be more able to seek support in the future.” (Emma Nelson, student experience manager school of sociology and social policy, Leeds University)

4. Be understanding – but don’t go out your depth

“Academics are oddly placed with respect to their students and pastoral wellbeing, while students also need a human connection to their lecturers. Academics need to act with human warmth and empathy while also understanding that some problems are out of their control. (Martin Eve, lecturer in English literature, Lincoln University)

5. Think practically about how you can help

“Little things can make a huge difference to students who are experiencing issues: a brief discussion of how to organize their upcoming deadlines or short-term meetings to check on their progress can be a huge help.” (Nadine Muller, lecturer in English literature and cultural history, Liverpool John Moores University)

Emotional Intelligence and Self Mastery is as Important as Cognitive Intelligence

According to Verita’s faculty, it is essential for students to develop a deep mastery of self, which involves learning and integrating their own learning processes, social skills, and strategies for resilience and well-being.

“We assist our students in cultivating tools of emotional self-regulation and create cognitive strategies that create healthy empowering habits of mind. As we attain more self-mastery we understand and have a better awareness of our bodies and thought processes and how they connect to a personal sense of balance and resilience. Our overarching long-term goal is to create a new paradigm of self-mastery in our students that build and sustains wellness and wisdom that lasts a lifetime,” explains Richard Joannides, founder of Verita International School.