Tara has a keen interest in mental health in schools. Pre-covid she was working for the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families (AFNCCF) on their Schools in Mind project, where she was writing and delivering training on a national platform.
She is Mental Health Columnist for the Times Educational Supplement (https://www.tes.com/author/tara-porter) and is one of their judges on their prestigious Schools of the Year award.
Through the AFNCCF, the Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and in her private practice she has regularly provided teaching packages and consultation to schools and education authorities about mental health.
She also loves going into local schools to give talks. These include talks to parents about screens or anxiety; to teach teachers about spotting mental health problems and what to do and is involved in PHSE packages for children and adolescents, and has taught for example on body image. Pupils are always the most challenging audience, especially trying to get them to think about the impact of screens and the internet on their mental health!
Tara has been school governor.
"I know how much the staff have come to admire your wisdom and advice over the past few months as well. Your delivery is always so professional but with understanding and good humour."
Secondary school headteacher
In this podcast with TES Tara thinks about the best ways for schools to support young people with eating disorders
https://www.tes.com/news/how-support-pupils-eating-disorders
We are all concerned about the increase of mental health problems in young people. In this article in the Times Educational Supplement, Dr Tara Porter considers how schools can help.
Advice for schools and parents about managing eating disorders