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Description
Many mental illnesses develop from young adolescence, and it is essential that children have enough relevant information about mental disorders during this period, so that they can prevent themselves as best as possible and that they develop the competence to seek help when necessary. Research shows that more than 90 % of completed adolescent suicides and 80 % of suicide attempts had at least one mental illness (Fleischman, Barondess, 2004, etc.). These alarming facts point to the need for systemic prevention of children''s mental disorders, both in the level of preventive work with children and the involvement of parents and teachers.
The main aim of the project organized in cooperation with the Faculty of Education UPOL and Company Helping hands is to teach 7th - 8th-grade primary school pupils to prevent the development of mental disorders, to recognize their symptoms, and to be able to react adequately. The starting point will be researching in a given sample of pupils mapping awareness of mental disorders, attitudes towards mental health, and competence to deal with risky situations. The results will be used to create a methodology for the prevention program.
To strengthen the effectiveness of the program, teachers of the participating classes will also be trained through workshops and supervision. They will learn to prevent mental disorders in themselves and children, they will be able to recognize the most common symptoms of mental disorders and offer first aid. Teachers will be provided with a methodology and worksheets to be able to continue the preventive work and develop the issues addressed.
The key target group will also be parents of children. Organized seminars will provide them with program information, how to support the child in its quest for well-being, respond adequately to symptoms of mental disorder, and possibilities of professional help. The project implementation also includes providing information to the public and professionals.
Summary of project results
Many mental illnesses develop from early adolescence onwards, so it is crucial that children are well informed about mental disorders, know how to prevent them and seek help early. The covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine brought new challenges that needed to be addressed promptly, such as social isolation and fear of war, which required adaptation of programmes for Czech and Ukrainian pupils and support from parents and teachers.
The main goal of the project was to strengthen competences to support mental health through primary prevention programmes and to teach students in grades 7-8 to prevent mental disorders, recognise their symptoms and seek help. To ensure the effectiveness of the programme, the teachers of the participating classes were also educated through workshops to strengthen their knowledge and competences in the prevention of mental disorders in children and their ability to offer first aid.Parents were also a key group, participating in workshops aimed at promoting children''s mental well-being and responding to the symptoms of mental disorders.The aim was to involve all the main actors in the prevention and education process - children, teachers and parents - in the interrelated promotion of mental health and prevention of mental disorders. The project also involved raising awareness among the professional and lay public and was supported by research mapping awareness of mental disorder.
The assumption was that 1330 pupils would be affected, but 2368 pupils have undergone prevention progr.By workshops and supervision meetings, the plan was to train 70 teachers who work with pupils in the participating classes. The final number of teachers trained was 365.In total, the programmes were implemented in 20 schools.A feedback was the evaluation research,which confirmed that there was a significant improvement in the level of knowledge of the issue among the trained groups of children.
The project met its objectives, increased knowledge about mental health and prevention of mental disorders among 2368 pupils and trained 365 teachers. The developed methodology will be continued in prevention work in schools. The project supported networking of professionals and collaboration between school practice and academic institutions, which will lead to long-term positive benefits in the field of mental health and prevention of mental disorders.