In recent years, increasing attention has been given to students’ emotional well-being and mental health. Adolescence is a complex phase marked by emotional, social, and cognitive changes, and schools play a key role in supporting young people to manage emotions, build relationships, and feel safe. However, addressing emotional well-being cannot be limited to isolated lessons or occasional interventions. It requires a whole-school approach.
A whole-school approach means that emotional well-being is embedded in every aspect of school life: teaching practices, relationships, policies, school culture, and collaboration with families and communities. Rather than treating emotional education as an “add-on”, it becomes a core component of the educational experience.
Research shows that schools adopting this approach create safer, more inclusive environments where students feel valued, supported, and engaged.
A whole-school approach typically includes:
- Integration of emotional education and well-being into the curriculum
- Training and support for teachers and school staff
- Safe spaces and accessible support systems for students
- Active involvement of families and external stakeholders
- Policies that promote inclusion, respect, and well-being.
This systemic perspective is essential because students’ emotional experiences are shaped not only in the classroom, but also through daily interactions, peer relationships, and the overall school climate.
The SAFEBOT project is grounded in this vision. It aims to support schools in adopting a comprehensive approach to emotional education and well-being by combining pedagogical resources with innovative digital tools.
In particular, SAFEBOT focuses on:
- Providing a mini-guide for teachers to support a whole-school approach
- Developing teaching materials to integrate emotional education into everyday teaching
- Creating a chatbot as a safe, accessible space where students can explore topics such as emotions, relationships, and mental health
- Promoting digital well-being and critical thinking, especially in relation to online information and social media.
Investing in emotional well-being is not only about preventing problems, but also about empowering students to thrive. A whole-school approach ensures that every student has the opportunity to develop emotional awareness, build healthy relationships, and feel supported in their school environment.
References
European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Cefai, C., Caravita, S. and Simões, C., 2021, A systemic, whole-school approach to mental health and well-being in schools in the EU – Executive summary, Publications Office of the European Union, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/208726
European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, 2024, Wellbeing and mental health at school – Guidelines for school leaders, teachers and educators, Publications Office of the European Union, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/760136
European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, 2023, Promoting supportive learning environments and supporting well-being at school, Publications Office of the European Union, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/864948
WHO, 2023, How school systems can improve health and well-being. Topic brief: mental health, https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/367426/9789240064751-eng.pdf?sequence=1