Bev Peartree, Associate Professor (Professional Practice) in Special Educational Needs (SEND) and Mental Health at Leeds Trinity University, will be looking at the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people with SEND and mental health issues at the Malaysian Penang International Mental Health Forum 2022.

She will also discuss strategies for improving mental health in schools, what SEND is in England and what provision looks like in schools.

The forum takes place virtually on Wednesday 5 and 12 October and will feature a number of academics from around the world focusing on ‘The Aftermath of the Pandemic: Strengthening resilience among children and young people’.

Bev will be presenting at both events, with her first presentation concentrating on Primary Education and the second on Secondary Education.

She said: “It is an honour to have been invited to present findings around the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people with SEND and mental health issues to an international audience.

“It is fantastic to be able to represent Leeds Trinity University on a global stage and provide resources and strategies for other educational professionals in Malaysia to work from. I hope that in doing so, we can make a difference to SEND and mental health provision in schools around the world.”

Dr Duncan Martin, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Childhood and Education, said: “It is great news that Bev Peartree has been invited to give a presentation to an international audience focussing on her areas of expertise around SEND and mental health in children and young people, which will eventually help hundreds of children in Malaysia.

“Representing Leeds Trinity University on a global scale is extremely important, highlighting its rich research and practice-informed culture especially within the Institute of Childhood and Education. I look forward to Bev developing her work further and bringing this back to Leeds Trinity.”

The Penang Mental Health Forum 2022 is organised by the Penang Education Council in Malaysia and is aimed at education professionals, counsellors, and therapists in the Penang district.

Other sessions during the forum will focus on school bullying, creative arts therapy intervention and healing through therapeutic play.

Find out more about research at Leeds Trinity on the website.