Careers Education and Wellbeing

Young people are making life-defining career choices amid a global youth mental health crisis. Anxiety, pressure, and uncertainty can derail any student, leaving them without the confidence or clarity to make decisions that reflect who they truly are. Yet, too often, wellbeing and careers education are treated as separate strands—when in reality, they are deeply connected. This book offers practical strategies for embedding mental health and wellbeing into every aspect of careers provision in secondary schools and colleges. Moving beyond grades and destinations, it gives careers staff a holistic framework that enables them to engage with their students in a way that acknowledges trauma, parental expectations, bullying, neurodiversity, among other topics. Inside, you’ll find: - Real-world case studies adaptable to mainstream, selective, FE, SEND, international, and alternative settings. - Practical strategies for embedding wellbeing themes into subject lessons and form time, aligned with Gatsby Benchmark 4. - Staff tools for follow-up, monitoring outcomes and using data effectively. - Ready-to-implement workshop ideas, activities, templates and reflection prompts. Empowering staff at every level, this book shows how to turn careers conversations into moments that build resilience, self-belief, and a genuine sense of purpose.

Cliona McMenamin is a CDI-qualified career guidance practitioner and incoming Director of University Guidance and Careers at St George’s British International School, Rome. She is currently Head of Careers and Teacher of Mathematics at Dubai College and writes Pathways to Success, a LinkedIn newsletter exploring careers education, university guidance and student wellbeing.