SHINE aims to help transform health and wellbeing outcomes for young people in Scotland through high quality, school-based health improvement research and data-driven innovation

As part of the MRC funded Mental Health Data Pathfinder award, researchers from the University of Glasgow and University of St Andrews established a new Scottish Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement Research Network (SHINE) in 2018. Scottish schools were invited to sign up to become members of SHINE. Pupil health and academic attainment are intertwined. Healthier pupils have higher attainment. Adolescence is a critical period for young people’s health and wellbeing. About three quarters of all psychiatric disorders begin before age 18 but mental health research during childhood and adolescence has been relatively neglected compared to research within older age groups. The aim of SHINE is to support improvements in health and wellbeing amongst school-aged children by building a collaboration between schools, researchers and policy-makers.

Health and Wellbeing is integral to the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. SHINE works with schools to support an evidence-based, whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing, using high-quality data and providing an infrastructure for all stakeholders to share good practice. The SHINE model aligns closely with Scottish educational policy and practice.

 For further details please contact:  sphsu-shine@glasgow.ac.uk.