Wellbeing and mental health support in Abu Dhabi’s schools are getting a major upgrade, moving beyond the traditional role of a school counsellor to a system-wide approach that integrates wellbeing into every aspect of student life.
“Previously, mental health was covered under a general counselling services policy,” said Sylvie Wald, Education Policy Office Director at ADEK. Now, every school must have a dedicated student wellbeing strategy and mental health policy, with a focus on early detection, structured support, and community awareness.
A major issue schools need to focus on, she said, is food bullying. “We heard from parents and our focus groups that there were food-related bullying incidents where children would force other children to buy them food or steal their cards.”
“So, it’s not just about making sure the food is safe; it’s about creating a positive environment throughout the school. Schools must actively supervise lunch breaks.”
Beyond food bullying, the healthy eating and food safety policy introduces measures to detect and support students struggling with eating disorders and other food-related issues. “If a teacher notices that there is a child who has eating disorders or other types of food-related problems, then those concerns are addressed to their teacher and to the parents the day it is noticed.”
The new student behaviour policy also extends into student behaviour management. Schools must implement a ‘positive behaviour model’ before resorting to punitive measures. “Before they start escalating things, they need to make sure they are doing things positively,” she explained. “We are trying to tackle issues preventively rather than negatively.”
Environmental wellbeing is another major focus, said Wald.
Suggested implementations include creating calming spaces in classrooms, designated areas where students experiencing distress can unwind. “A classroom could have a quiet corner with calming colours where a child can go if they’re feeling overwhelmed; It’s about giving students the tools to regulate their emotions.”
ADEK’s policy ensures schools proactively support students during vulnerable times. “We’ve seen that students’ mental health tends to decline during vulnerable phases, like exams or traumatic events such as the loss of a teacher or fellow student,” Wald said. “During those times, schools must provide extra supportive measures.”
Additionally, the policy reinforces Abu Dhabi’s commitment to child protection; “now we have a very robust child protection policy which is aligned with Abu Dhabi’s Dama Al Aman programme born from the Early Childhood Authority.”
© Khaleej Times
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