A Conversation About… The Importance of Belonging for Young People

“When students have a high sense of school belonging, we see reduced mental health [concerns], improved well-being, even improved physical health and better school experiences, the benefits of a sense of school belonging are really quite compelling...”Get ready to put the research into practice about the key elements that contribute to young people feeling a sense of belonging. Discover the relationship between belonging and inclusion and find out how belonging relates to loneliness. Tune in to this episode of ‘A Conversation About..., as community psychologist Dr. Lyn O'Grady and educational and developmental psychologist, Associate Professor Kelly-Ann Allen unpack the complexities and value of belonging – how it is nuanced across individuals and time – and how ultimately a sense of belonging can be connected to long-term well-being. They also discuss the ‘dark side of belonging’ and how a need to ‘fit in’ can lead young people to engage in behaviors that may not support their mental wellbeing.Kelly-Ann shares her research into ‘discovering the ingredients’ that helps young people feel they ‘belong’ at school. How teachers play a key role and what schools can do to support both students and teachers to belong. They also reflect on the COVID-19 lockdowns and how our collective sense of belonging has evolved, creating innovative new ways to connect.Liked this episode? Stay tuned for future episodes by following Mental Health in Practice.Visit the MHPN website for episode host and guest bios, recommended resources and a self-directed CPD form.Share your comments, questions and feedback about A Conversation About... or any of MHPN’s podcast series here: https://mhpn.org.au/podcast-feedback/.