Founder, The Wellbeing Hub
Alicia is passionate about providing evidence-based advice to parents, teachers and all those looking after children and young people, so they can be proactive in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of those in their care. Alicia also works directly with children and young people empowering them to look after their own mental health and wellbeing.
Alicia draws on the latest research from psychotherapy, psychology, and neuroscience, along with her experience of working as an adolescent therapist.
Alicia is a BACP accredited therapist, parenting expert, sought after keynote speaker, member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for a Fit and Healthy Childhood, author and a mother. She is regularly asked for her expert opinion by the media.
Having worked with schools across the UK for more than a decade delivering webinars, talks and workshops to parents, carers, staff, and pupils; in 2020 Alicia created The Wellbeing Hub. This award-winning platform provides schools with a whole school, proactive approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people, now in over 300 schools in the UK, impacting over 170,000 pupils.
Background
According to the World Health Organization,
• Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group.
• Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15–29 years old.
• The consequences of failing to address adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults
The situation is alarming which requires our immediate attention. Similar findings from research done by CUHK showed that 24.4 per cent of children and adolescents had experienced at least one mental health issue in 2022 in Hong Kong.
The strategies to deal with the phenomenon has been mainly on promotion and prevention, and early detection and treatment. The latest global trends in wellness education and learn how integrating emotional well-being into educational frameworks is transforming lives. Research shows that happiness is a key predictor of adult well-being, even more so than academic achievement.
The Panel
The approach to wellness education encompasses all dimensions of wellness—emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and mental health. By embedding these elements into the heart of educational environments, it is aimed to create supportive systems that benefit both students and educators. This holistic approach fosters growth mindsets and cultivates learning environments where everyone can thrive.