Organized by Place2Be, the UK’s leading children’s mental health charity, the I'm Fine forum included presentations by Triple P UK chief executive Matt Buttery. Speakers also included:

• Regius Professor of Psychiatry at King's College London Professor Sir Simon Wessely,
• Consultant Psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust  Professor David Veale,
• Adolescent Consultant Psychiatrist and Technology Addiction Lead at Nightingale Hospital Dr Richard Graham,
• Professor of Women’s Health at King’s College London Professor Louise Howard,
• Professor of Developmental Psychology and Neuroscience at Kings College London Professor Edmund Sonuga-Barke.

Mr Buttery said it was gratifying to hear a number of presentations discuss how parents and schools can work together to support the best outcomes for children. Place2Be School Project Managers deliver various levels of Triple P across a number of schools.

“Place2Be really have excelled at bringing parents into the equation to support the best outcomes for children and families,’’ Mr Buttery said.  

“Evidence-based parenting interventions such as the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program have the strongest evidence of outcomes when it comes to improving children’s early-onset mental health problems, such as behaviour problems.’’

Mr Buttery said Triple P’s proven outcomes include improving children’s educational outcomes, improved mental health for parents as well as improved couple relationships.

 “We need to extend the way parents can access evidence-based parenting support away from traditional service pathways and this includes through schools, online and through GPs,’’ he said.

Opening the forum, Place2Be’s Royal Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, said she believed schools and teachers were well placed to identify parents struggling.

"As a mother, just getting used to leaving my own child at the school gates, it is clear to me that it takes a whole community to help raise a child.

"Whether we are school leaders, teachers, support staff or parents we are all in this together.  We are all working to give children the emotional strength they need to face their future lives and thrive."

See Her Royal Highness’s speech here.