MINDOUT MAYO: The implementation of of a social and emotional learning programme in post-primary schools.

INTRODUCTION The promotion of children and adolescents mental health and wellbeing is essential to ensure healthy development and positive social and health outcomes in adulthood. 1 School-based social and emotional learning (SEL) interventions are proven to be one of the most effective universal mental health promotion strategies for young people. SEL programmes demonstrate a range of positive outcomes for school students including; improving social emotional skills, mental health and well-being and academic outcomes, as well as reducing negative health and social behaviours (OECD, 2015; Barry, Clarke Dowling, 2017; Durlak et al., 2011; Oberle Schonert-Reichl, 2017; Taylor et al., 2017). However, variable and poor-quality implementation can impact negatively on the outcomes that can be achieved from well- designed and evidence-based programmes (Durlak, 2016; Durlak Dupre, 2008). Programme evaluations require further attention to assessing the implementation process and the multi- level factors that lead to stronger or weaker implementation quality. By identifying these factors, strategies can be designed to create more optimal conditions for programme delivery that will increase the likelihood of achieving programme outcomes. This study reports on a process evaluation of the implementation of the MindOut social and emotional learning programme in six post-primary schools in Mayo. MindOut is a universal SEL programme for post-primary school students (15-18 years old) in Ireland and was designed to be delivered by teachers through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum. The findings from this study are informed by the perspectives of key school stakeholders, including teachers who are providing the programme, students who are participating in the programme, and school principals who are supporting the programme. A partnership with Mental Health Ireland, Mayo MHA, Mindspace Mayo, HSE Health and Wellbeing and the Health Promotion Research Centre at NUI Galway was created to support the implementation and evaluation of the MindOut programme in Mayo schools. This project was commissioned and funded by Mental Health Ireland. The findings reported here should be considered and interpreted within the context of implementation during COVID-19 school restrictions, which impacted significantly on programme delivery.