Mental health project praised

School’s pioneering initiative tackles impact of ACEs

A ground-breaking project to help children at an Angus primary school cope with adverse experiences has been praised in the Scottish Parliament.

Mairi Gougeon, MSP for Angus North and Mearns, highlighted work at Maisondieu in Brechin, which tackles the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Staff have worked with the Scottish Association for Mental Health and experts in the field of mental health and young people to launch a strategy to support the mental health and wellbeing of children at the school.

This has helped children develop coping mechanisms and build resilience in the face of ACEs, with the work recognised by Mrs Gougeon during a debate at Holyrood.

Studies show ACEs, such as sexual abuse, domestic violence and neglect, can lead to physical and mental health issues for children, not only when they occur but later in life.

Mrs Gougeon said: “The work carried out by Maisondieu is incredible and the staff there deserve an enormous amount of praise for the work they are doing.

“The school has developed a longterm strategy involving parents, the Scottish Association for Mental Health and specialists who work in the area of mental health in young people.

“The school recognises there is no mental health part to the curriculum so is actively trying to do something about it. “Our schools cannot solve all the problems or challenges that a child faces when they are at home.

“But they can play a key role in helping to develop resilience and build coping mechanisms to ensure that any ACEs children have do not hold them back or have a lasting impact on the rest of their lives.”