Social and emotional skills
Social-emotional skills are a set of psychological skills (cognitive, emotional, and social) that help maintain mental well-being. They thus foster better relationships with oneself and others.
Workshop on the Transfer of Expertise in Psychosocial Skills (PSS) for Children and Youth, February 3–5, 2025
From February 3 to 5, 2025, Santé publique France organized a seminar on psychosocial skills to present Volume 1 of the agency’s operational guidelines on psychosocial skills. Find the highlights of the event, session by session: program, summaries, and video replays.
The Operational Framework is one of the key reference and expert documents produced by Santé publique France to support the multisectoral strategy for the implementation of psychosocial competencies (PSCs). It aims to promote understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying each PSC. By providing an operational explanation of the key psychological knowledge and skills associated with each PSK, it aims to increase professionals’ knowledge and mastery of PSKs.
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référentiel
20 January 2026
Social and Emotional Skills: An Operational Framework for Experts and Trainers in Social and Emotional Skills. Volume I
The workshop on the transfer of expertise regarding the psychosocial skills (PSS) of children and young people was structured around a program that highlighted, in particular, the first volume of this operational framework.
Highlights of the seminar
Opening remarks and overview of the Santé publique France seminar on psychosocial skills
Video #1
This video features the opening remarks and general overview of the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, at the Aubervilliers Conference Center. The seminar was opened by Caroline Semaille, Director General of Santé publique France, and the general overview was presented by Nadine Fréry, coordinator of the agency’s PSS program. This seminar is intended for PSK experts and trainers from various government sectors (National Education, agricultural high schools, community education, higher education, vocational integration, justice, sports, etc.) and national or regional health promotion associations involved in developing PSK among children and youth. In particular, it presents Volume 1 of the operational framework on psychosocial competencies developed by Santé publique France in 2025 to support the national interministerial strategy on psychosocial competencies.
The Interministerial Strategy on the Development of Psychosocial Competencies in Children and Youth
Video #2
This video is part of a series of videos from the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, in Aubervilliers. It presents the national interministerial strategy on the development of psychosocial skills among children and youth in France, which brings together nine ministries responsible for children and youth. It is part of an interministerial directive for 2022–2037 and is co-led by the ministries of Health and National Education. The presentations are given by Julie Barrois, Head of the Mental Health Office at the General Directorate of Health (DGS), and by Claire Bey, Head of the Health and Social Action Office at the General Directorate of School Education (DGESCO). The presentations focus on the CPS 2022–2037 interministerial directive and strategy, as well as the strategy for training and deploying CPS expertise within the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Health.
Examples of training and deployment strategies for CPS expertise in France
Video #3
This video is part of a series of videos from the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, in Aubervilliers. It presents examples of training and the implementation of PSS expertise in France by seven pilot project leaders and PSS experts, as well as lessons learned from the training and implementation strategy already in place.
- Christine Ferron, Fédération Promotion Santé: PSK Training and Intersectorality in Local Communities
- Damien Tessier, Unires: Deployment of PSK Continuing Education in Schools
- Carine Simar, Clermont-Auvergne University: PSK Training in the French National Education System (primary and secondary levels)
- Thomas Villemonteix, Paris 8 University: Deployment of CPS via the “School of Emotions” program in preschool
- Christophe Marsollier, National Education System: CPS and well-being
- Thierry Brulavoine, League Against Cancer: Rollout of CPS through the Explo’Santé program
- Arnaud Carré, Savoie Mont-Blanc University: Rollout of PSSM (Mental Health First Aid) training as an example of modeling the implementation of a national strategy
The Evolving CPS Training Kit: Foundation for CPS Training Under the Interministerial Strategy
Video #4
This video is part of a series of videos from the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, in Aubervilliers. Béatrice Lamboy, scientific advisor and co-leader of the PSS program at Santé publique France, presents a scalable PSS training kit, which serves as the foundation for PSS training under the interministerial strategy. It is based on Santé publique France’s 2022 and 2025 PSK frameworks. She also presents the introductory PSK sheet covering the fundamentals of PSK, as well as the PSK self-assessment grid (based on the 55 knowledge and skills of the 20 specific PSKs).
Presentation of CPS C1 "Strengthening Self-Awareness"
Video No. 5, Part 1
This video is part of a series of videos from the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, in Aubervilliers. Béatrice Lamboy, scientific advisor and co-leader of the PSK program at Santé publique France, and Jean-Christophe Seznec, psychiatrist and member of the PSK support committee at Santé publique France, present the first cognitive PSK (C1): Strengthening self-awareness with two specific sub-PSKs: increasing self-knowledge (C1.1) and learning to think critically (C1.2). Following a presentation of the key knowledge and skills to be developed, the session delves deeper into the key concepts of cognitive defusion, experiential avoidance, and acceptance.
Video #5, Part 2
This video is part of a series of videos from the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, in Aubervilliers. Béatrice Lamboy, scientific advisor and co-leader of the PSS program at Santé publique France, and Rebecca Shankland, professor of developmental psychology, Lumière University, Lyon 2, a member of the Institut Universitaire de France, present the continuation of the first cognitive PSK (C1), Strengthening Self-Awareness, with several specific sub-PSKs: Knowing one’s values, needs, and personal goals (C1.3) and making constructive decisions (C1.4); Self-evaluating positively (C1.5); Strengthening full attention (to oneself) (C1.6). Following a presentation of the key knowledge and skills to be developed, the session delves deeper into the concepts of enhancing self-image, human qualities, counteracting the negativity bias, and self-compassion.
Presentation of CPS E1: “Strengthening Emotional Awareness”
Video #6
This video is part of a series of videos from the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, in Aubervilliers. Béatrice Lamboy, scientific advisor and co-leader of the PSK program at Santé publique France, and Aurélie Gauchet, Professor of Psychology at the Inter-University Psychology Laboratory at the University of Savoie Mont-Blanc, present the continuation of the first emotional PSK (E1): Strengthening emotional awareness through two sub-CPS modules: understanding emotions (E1.1) and identifying emotions (E1.2). Following a presentation of the key knowledge and skills to be developed, the session delves deeper into the concepts of the connections between emotions, thoughts, and behaviors; the four stages of emotion (charge, tension, discharge, release); and the underlying needs that emotions seek to fulfill.
Presentation of CPS S1: "Developing Constructive Relationships"
Video #7
This video is part of a series of videos from the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, in Aubervilliers.
Béatrice Lamboy, scientific advisor and co-leader of the PSK program at Santé publique France, and Rebecca Shankland, professor of developmental psychology at Université Lumière Lyon 2 and member of the Institut Universitaire de France, present the continuation of the first social PSK (S1): Developing constructive relationships, with three sub-PSCs: communicating effectively and positively (S1.1), communicating empathetically (S1.2), and developing prosocial bonds and behaviors (S1.3).
Following a presentation of the key knowledge and skills to be developed, the session delves deeper into the concepts of indirect compliments—particularly through the solution-focused approach—and empathetic listening, with a focus on empathetic rephrasing.
Quality criteria for CPS interventions
Video #8
This video is part of a series of videos from the seminar on psychosocial skills (PSS) organized by Santé publique France from February 3 to 5, 2025, in Aubervilliers. Béatrice Lamboy, scientific advisor and co-leader of the PSK program at Santé publique France, presents the quality criteria for PSK interventions to help participants internalize these criteria, thereby enriching the content of their PSK training and ultimately optimizing their PSK training.
