The Mental Elf

Supporting social relationships in young people - ReSET School Mental Health

The Mental Elf

Show Notes

Social Relationships and Mental Health in Adolescents - The Crucial Connection

Episode 3 of the ReSET Podcast delves into the bidirectional relationship between social relationships and mental health in adolescents.

Host André Tomlin from The Mental Elf, along with experts Pasco Fearon, Lucy Bowes, René Veenstra, and Ros Law, discuss why peer relationships are fundamental during adolescence, how transitions like moving to secondary school impact dynamics, and the importance of both emotional and social skills.

The episode introduces the ME and WE strategies for personal and relational wellbeing and emphasises the importance of whole-school approaches and teacher support. Practical interventions and understanding peer dynamics are highlighted as key components to fostering a supportive environment for young people.

00:00 Introduction: The Link Between Mental Health and Relationships 00:57 Welcome to the ReSET Podcast 01:18 The Importance of Peer Relationships 01:54 Expert Insights on Adolescent Social Dynamics 04:12 The Critical Transition to Secondary School 07:19 The Healthy Context Paradox 10:59 ME and WE Strategies for Better Relationships 13:38 Practical Applications and Group Strategies 17:07 Whole School Approaches and Influential Students 22:47 Teacher Training and Support 25:04 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Find out more about the ReSET project at: https://resetproject.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from The Mental Elf

Jul 17, 2026

Professor Eileen Joyce and Professor Trevor Robbins, two of her closest colleagues and former PhD students, join André Tomlin to remember Professor Susan (Sue) Iversen (1940–2025), the scientist who fused psychopharmacology and neuropsychology and helped found the field of neuropsychopharmacology.

Jul 9, 2026

Depression is not one thing, and treating it as if it were may be why so many people don't get better. In this episode, Prof Brenda Penninx offers a sharper way to think about it.

Jul 6, 2026

Catherine Harmer, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Oxford and outgoing president of the British Association of Psychopharmacology (BAP), and Naomi Fineberg, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Hertfordshire and incoming BAP president, discuss how BAP brings together non-clinical scientists, experimental medicine researchers, clinicians, and industry to translate discoveries into patient care.

Jun 26, 2026

Oxford psychologist Dr Lucy Foulkes discusses myths and research around adolescent mental health ahead of her public lecture at the British Association of Psychopharmacology Conference (Sunday, 19 July).

Jun 9, 2026

Five years of research. 14,000 students surveyed. Interventions tested. A whole-university framework developed. Now: what needs to change?

See all episodes →