Developing Interventions in Schools for students's Mental Health

The project aimed to address mental health issues among secondary school students by raising awareness, promoting help-seeking behaviours, and enhancing teachers’ ability to identify and manage me...

The project aimed to address mental health issues among secondary school students by raising awareness, promoting help-seeking behaviours, and enhancing teachers’ ability to identify and manage mental health disorders. As such, it aligned with the priorities and objectives of the Erasmus+ program and sought to better integrate students facing health challenges. Additionally, the project aimed to enhance international cooperation among partners and strengthen institutional capacity for international projects.The project's objective was to establish an intervention area dedicated to developing institutional infrastructure for addressing mental health issues. The specific objectives were as follows: 1. Raise awareness about the importance of students’ mental health among 70 teachers and 150 students over 24 months. 2. Develop help-seeking behaviours and emotional well-being practices to cultivate emotional competencies among 150 school students within 24 months. 3. Develop preventive interventions to enhance the social and emotional outcomes of 150 students. The project was designed for sustainability, with at least two activities planned to continue after the grant period ended: the mental health room and the curriculum.

Throughout the implementation period, we adhered to the principles outlined in the financial contract with the National Agency and made concerted efforts to achieve the predetermined objectives. The activities were conducted with a strong emphasis on transparency and fairness, ensuring that the selection process for students and teachers adhered strictly to principles of equity, non-discrimination, and gender equality. This approach ensured that no distinctions were made based on factors such as ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, or religion. 1. Project management and implementation 2. Transnational project meeting in Turkey 3. Mixed training activities for teachers and students in Turkey 4. Mixed training activities for teachers and students in Romania 5. The development of a curriculum for teachers to build resilience and coping skills among children 6. Set up a mental health awareness and emotional support room both in Romania and Turkey These activities represented invaluable opportunities for promoting mental health among teachers, pupils and parents, and fostering a culture that promoted important European values such as multiculturalism, diversity, and respect for others.

The activities were carried out with a strong emphasis on transparency and fairness. They encompassed a wide range of workshops and events held in both Romanian and Turkish schools, engaging numerous teachers and students. These participants had the opportunity to attend specialised training workshops focused on mental health, fostering positive interactions with their international counterparts and forging new collaborative relationships for future Erasmus+ projects and educational partnerships. These activities served as a valuable opportunity for self-reflection, and the interaction with two distinct cultures, including variations in traditions, language, teaching methodologies, and attitudes toward mental health, sparked productive discussions among participants during the mixed training activities. Another significant outcome of the project was the establishment of four mental health rooms at the Romanian-Finnish High School and one at the Turkish school. These rooms were designed to offer counselling and support to both students and teachers facing mental health challenges or seeking guidance from specialists. The development of the curriculum and its integration into teacher training sessions was, also, an important result.