Ola Demkowicz

Social and Emotional Learning for Every Child: Why SEL Matters

By Ola Demkowicz, Suzanne Hamilton, Lauren Burke and Annie O'Brien Filed Under: Education, Health and Care Posted: November 6, 2024

As concerns surrounding children’s mental health continue to grow, the role schools can play in supporting children’s mental health is receiving more attention. Universal, school-based interventions known as “Social and emotional learning” (SEL) interventions, delivered to all children, are a cost-effective and non-stigmatising approach to supporting wellbeing and healthy child development. These interventions aim to […]

Wellbeing in education settings – listening to children and young people

By Ola Demkowicz, Alexandra Hennessey and Kirsty Pert Filed Under: All posts, Education Posted: February 29, 2024

The role of education settings in promoting good wellbeing and mental health among children and young people has been increasingly formalised in national policy. But often the voices of the key stakeholders – children and young people – are not adequately sought, heard, or given due weight. In this article, Dr Ola Demkowicz, Dr Alexandra […]

Child of the North: Child mental wellbeing

By Pamela Qualter, Neil Humphrey, Ola Demkowicz, Matt Sutton and Stephanie Gillibrand Filed Under: Education, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted: November 2, 2022

Children’s mental health and wellbeing was deteriorating prior to COVID-19, but there was significant decline during the pandemic, particularly in the North of England. This blog post covers the collaboration between Professor Pamela Qualter, Professor Matt Sutton, Stephanie Gillibrand, Professor Neil Humphrey and Dr Ola Demkowicz in their study of children’s mental health, originally published […]

Teenagers’ experiences of life in lockdown – and lessons for COVID-19 recovery plans

By Ola Demkowicz, Emma Ashworth and Terry Hanley Filed Under: Education, Health and Social Care Posted: October 21, 2020

For older teenagers, the COVID-19 pandemic has come at a key moment in the transition to adulthood. In “normal” times, this age group are becoming more independent and are taking steps towards their futures – sitting exams, beginning new studies, and entering the workforce. In 2020, things have been rather different. In this blog Dr […]

Whose responsibility is it anyway? Resilience in children and young people’s mental health

By Ola Demkowicz Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care Posted: May 21, 2020

The lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has seen an increasing focus on mental health, particularly that of children and young people. In this blog, Dr Ola Demkowicz examines the emphasis on resilience in this age group, and suggests how policymakers can better support young people’s wellbeing, while moving away from placing the onus on […]

Wellbeing in education settings – listening to children and young people

Child of the North: Child mental wellbeing

Whose responsibility is it anyway? Resilience in children and young people’s mental health

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