Mental health experts conclude that school counselors play a key role in the emotional well-being of young people
Madrid, 20 January 2025. The Association of Private and Independent Schools (CICAE), in collaboration with the Confederation of Organizations of Psychopedagogy and Guidance of Spain (COPOE), held last Friday, January 17, a conference to address the challenges of schools regarding mental health in childhood and adolescence. Under the slogan “Growing up with Well-being”, this event brought together more than 60 school counselors and mental health experts to analyze the impact of social changes on the emotional well-being of young people.
A space for educational analysis and action
Designed as a forum for learning, reflection and collaboration, this conference offered practical tools to address one of the most pressing problems in our society: the increase of emotional problems in children and adolescents.
During the day they analyzed how social, lifestyle and technological changes impact negatively on the emotional health of young people. They wondered about the new styles of parenting and education and anxiety in children and adolescents, is it a problem of the children or of the parents.
Reflecting also on how these new challenges of modern society reach the school where children spend so many hours and what is the work of guidance departments in school emotional well-being, which is considered essential.
To answer all these questions, the conference was attended by recognized experts in the field:
Montserrat Graell Berna: “How is the mental health of our children and youths?”
The Chief of Child Psychiatry at the Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús gave a comprehensive overview of the current state of mental health in childhood and adolescence. She highlighted risk factors such as social isolation, academic pressure and the impact of excessive use of social networks. Graell stressed the protective role of families and schools and called for the strengthening of early intervention programs to prevent disorders such as anxiety, depression and eating problems. Inviting professionals to update their training and collaborate with families to eradicate the stigma that society has when talking about mental health.
Marc Masip: “Addiction to New Technologies: How to disconnect”.
The psychologist and author of the book “Desconecta” warned of the dangers of content on social networks at an early age, as well as the abusive use of mobile devices that are clearly affecting the health of children. During his speech, Masip analyzed the most common warning signs in young people and highlighted the need to establish healthy limits in the use of devices. He also proposed the implementation of educational programs that promote a digital balance and stressed the importance of active collaboration between schools and families to reduce technological dependence.
Mireia Orgilés: “The impact of social changes on children’s emotional health”.
The professor of the Miguel Hernández University of Elche, highlighted how changes in family dynamics, overprotective parenting styles and overexposure to digital stimuli are affecting the emotional health of children.
Ruth Castillo Gualda: “Guidelines for working with families on the emotional health of their children”.
The UCJC professor addressed the essential role of families in the emotional education of children. She proposed concrete guidelines to promote effective communication between parents and children and highlighted the most common mistakes to avoid, such as overprotection or minimizing negative emotions. Castillo stressed the need for joint work between schools and families to ensure that emotional education strategies are coherent and effective in both contexts.
Roundtable: “What can guidance teams do to improve students’ mental health?”
Moderated by Juan Antonio Planas, president of the Asociación Aragonesa de Psicopedagogía, the roundtable brought together counselors from leading schools such as Colegio Británico de Aragón, Arturo Soria and St. Peter’s School in Barcelona. The speakers shared their practical experiences, including mental health intervention programs, strategies to foster emotional resilience in students and the challenge of balancing individualized attention with collective needs.
Final Dialogue: “The role of the counselor in the emotional well-being of students”.
Ana Cobos, president of COPOE, Ana Herrero, counselor at Brains Arturo Soria School, and the general director of CICAE, Elena Cid, discussed the importance of integrating emotional wellbeing into the educational plan of the centers. They highlighted the need to raise awareness among the entire educational community and to provide guidance counselors with more resources and specific training to address this challenge effectively.
CICAEOrienta’s impact and projection
CICAEOrienta reinforces its commitment to the mental health and integral development of students by providing counselors with quality tools and a space to share best practices. This event underlines the importance of building a strong network of collaboration between professionals, families and educational communities.
About CICAEOrienta
CICAEOrienta is an initiative that offers school counselors a space for training and collaboration where schools can share best practices and collectively improve their counseling strategies. This meeting reflects CICAE’s commitment to the promotion of mental health and the integral development of young people.
