Mental disorders are one of the most relevant public health problems nowadays. Programs for the development of socio-emotional competency, Programs for the development of socio-emotional competencies for the promotion of mental health and well-being are an essential strategy. Traditionally, mental health research and practice has followed a one-dimensional model that would explain mental health in terms of presence versus absence of psychological problems. In the last two decades, the accumulated evidence supports the idea of ​​a two-dimensional model of mental health, which conceptualizes psychological problems (distress) and psychological well-being (well-being) as a continuum of different but related dimensions, that must be considered together to offer a more enriching and comprehensive understanding of mental health. Consequently, both dimensions must be taken into account. The main objective of this symposium is to describe some of the most innovative programs in the field of child / adolescent mental health promotion in Spain. Firstly, Rocío Casañas (Center for Mental Hygiene Les Corts, Barcelona) will present data evaluating the effectiveness of the program EspaiJove.net Project, a community program whose purpose is the promotion of mental health and prevention of disorders, as well as avoiding the stigma and improving the search for help in young people (12-18 years old). Secondly, José Antonio Piqueras, from Miguel Hernández University (Elche), will show results from the DetectaWeb Program, an online system for detecting discomfort and psychological well-being in children and adolescents. Thirdly, David Pineda (UNED), will present data on an innovative program to improve coexistence, socio-emotional competence and reduction of bullying in children (aged 8-12). Finally, Juan González (University of Murcia), will present results of the effects of the Liga Brave, a unique sport-training competition at national level, where basic values ​​are promoted for coexistence and fair play is rewarded among the teams participating in base football.  

Professor of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatments in the Department of Health Psychology at Miguel Hernández University of Elche. In 2005 he defended his doctoral thesis, which evaluates a treatment for social phobia in adolescents, obtaining the extraordinary prize of doctorate. In 2006 he joined the University of Alicante and a year later the Department of Health Psychology at Miguel Hernández University. He belongs to the UMH research group: "Analysis, Intervention, and Applied Therapy with Children and Adolescents" (AITANA: see http://aitanainvestigacion.umh.es/en/). He has extensive experience in research focused on the evaluation and treatment of the continuum of mental health (well-being and discomfort) in childhood and adolescence (more information at: Research ID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-6011 -2011 or ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3604-5441). More specifically, he has extensive research activity funded by competing public national programs (has participated in more than 15 research projects and contracts) focused on evaluation (mostly online) and psychological treatment of the mental health continuum, including, on the one hand the discomfort (suicide, emotional disorders, social anxiety, separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and others related topics) and in an other hand well-being (mental health, well-being, socio-emotional competencies and emotional intelligence). He collaborates with international teams such as the one led by Dr. Cuijpers at Vrije University in Amsterdam, Dr. Furlong at the University of California Santa Barbara, and Dr. Céu Salvador at the University of Coimbra. The main university teaching is the one realized in the Degree in Psychology in the subject of Psychological Assessment and in the Master in Psychological Therapy with Children and Adolescents.