The narratives of the children and young people, school teachers and school leaders, parents and carers, policy makers and service managers, and mental health workers and professionals, presented in this book, should provide an invaluable resource for all those involved in mental health promotion in school. The insights drawn from these direct field experiences may help to inform policy and good practice and serve as an inspiration to schools in their efforts to introduce and promote mental health for their communities. Most of the chapters present original research carried out in schools, services, universities and other contexts across different cultures. Through various qualitative studies carried out in different cultural contexts, Mental Health Promotion in Schools provides a platform for children, teachers, school leaders, parents, professionals, policy makers and teacher educators, to express their views on what works and does not work in mental health promotion in school. In our continued quest for evidence based research, we may tend to underestimate the value and significance of capturing the views and experiences of those most directly involved in mental health promotion, such as children and young people, school teachers and parents/carers, in seeking to enhance policy and practice in the area. This book should be of particular interest to those involved in mental health promotion in school at practice, training and research levels and we are sure that among these chapters, they will discover many new and stimulating insights into the promotion of mental health in such complex systems as schools. "e;This is a timely book since mental health difficulties among children and young people are on the increase across the world. The editors, Carmel Cefai and Paul Cooper, are passionate about the crucial role to be played by schools in creating safe spaces in which to learn, develop and socialise. They have spent many years in the development of creative initiatives for the promotion of emotional health and well-being amongst young people. The editors bring an international perspective to the issue of mental health and youth and show how important it is to collaborate and share expertise and knowledge. Cefai and Cooper have assembled an impressive range of authors to share their knowledge and to show how initiatives can be adapted to a range of cultural contexts."e; - Helen Cowie, Professor, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK

The narratives of the children and young people, school teachers and school leaders, parents and carers, policy makers and service managers, and mental health workers and professionals, presented in this book, should provide an invaluable resource for all those involved in mental health promotion in school. The insights drawn from these direct field experiences may help to inform policy and good practice and serve as an inspiration to schools in their efforts to introduce and promote mental health for their communities. Most of the chapters present original research carried out in schools, services, universities and other contexts across different cultures. Through various qualitative studies carried out in different cultural contexts, Mental Health Promotion in Schools provides a platform for children, teachers, school leaders, parents, professionals, policy makers and teacher educators, to express their views on what works and does not work in mental health promotion in school. In our continued quest for evidence based research, we may tend to underestimate the value and significance of capturing the views and experiences of those most directly involved in mental health promotion, such as children and young people, school teachers and parents/carers, in seeking to enhance policy and practice in the area. This book should be of particular interest to those involved in mental health promotion in school at practice, training and research levels and we are sure that among these chapters, they will discover many new and stimulating insights into the promotion of mental health in such complex systems as schools. “This is a timely book since mental health difficulties among children and young people are on the increase across the world. The editors, Carmel Cefai and Paul Cooper, are passionate about the crucial role to be played by schools in creating safe spaces in which to learn, develop and socialise. They have spent many years in the development of creativeinitiatives for the promotion of emotional health and well-being amongst young people. The editors bring an international perspective to the issue of mental health and youth and show how important it is to collaborate and share expertise and knowledge. Cefai and Cooper have assembled an impressive range of authors to share their knowledge and to show how initiatives can be adapted to a range of cultural contexts.” – Helen Cowie, Professor, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK

Part 1: Introduction and Background Issues; Listening to Voices Across Spaces; Evidence Based Approaches to Mental Health Issues in Schools: Effective Strategies for the Classroom Practitioner; Part 2: Students’ Perspectives; Life at School and Mental Health from Students’ Points of View: A Study from Malta; Wellbeing Maps: Accessing Students’ Voices on Their Wellbeing; Exploring Students’ Views about their Psychological Wellbeing through Ecomaps; A Relationship Model of Schooling for Disadvantaged Children: The Life Histories of Past Students; Part 3: Teachers’ Perspectives; School Staff’ Perspectives on Mental Health Promotion and Wellbeing in School; School Staff’s Perspectives on Social and Emotional Learning Programmes at their School; Perspectives from Teachers and School Leaders about Long-Term Sustainability: A Challenge for Mental Health Promotion Initiatives in Educational Settings; University Lecturers’ Perspectives on Initial Teacher Education for Mental Health Promotion in Schools; Part 4: Parents’/Carers’ and Other Stakeholders’ Perspectives; Collaboration with Parents/Carers in KidsMatter Schools; Parents’/Carers’ Participation in Mental Health Promotion in Schools; Implementing Quality Wellbeing Programs in Schools: The Views of Policy Makers, Program Managers and School Leaders; Comparative Models of Children’s Mental Health Services: Perspectives of Stakeholders; Part 5: Conclusion; Small Scale Qualitative Studies and Large Scale Quantitative Studies: Contributing to the Promotion of Mental Health Promotion in Schools; About the Authors; Index.