Effective strategies for addressing student mental health in school
Addressing mental health in schools is crucial for creating a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes the well-being and academic success of all students. Here are the top 5 approaches for addressing mental health in schools.
Triumfland Saga
Triumfland Saga is an innovative approach that uses storytelling and interactive gameplay to address mental health issues among students. Triumfland Saga is a mobile game that involves engaging students in a narrative that teaches resilience, empathy, problem-solving and emotional regulation through characters and scenarios that they can relate to. Triumfland Saga is implemented in a school setting in a way that based on the game, teachers can carry out discussions, do role-playing and engage children in reflection activities that help students apply what they've learned to their own lives. Triumfland Saga is available in 9 languages: English, French, Spanish, Estonian, Ukrainian, Finnish, Romanian, Russian and Swedish.
Get an offer for your school via email: saga@triumf.health
KiVa Program
KiVa is an evidence-based program developed in Finland to prevent school bullying and to tackle the cases of bullying effectively. The program is based on decades of research on bullying and its mechanisms. KiVa includes both universal actions aimed at all students and indicated actions to be used when a bullying case is identified. The universal actions include student lessons with online games and activities designed to raise awareness of bullying, increase empathy towards victims, and provide strategies to support peers and discourage bullying behavior. The indicated actions involve a clear protocol for school personnel to follow when a bullying case comes to their attention, ensuring that both victims and bullies receive appropriate support.
Learn more about the programme HERE.
School-based in-person mental health services
Providing access to mental health services within the school setting is a critical approach. This can include the integration of school psychologists, counselors, and social workers who offer direct support to students through counseling, assessment, and intervention services. These professionals can also work with teachers and parents to develop strategies to support students' mental health and well-being.
Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs
SEL programs teach students essential skills related to understanding and managing emotions, setting and achieving positive goals, feeling and showing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and making responsible decisions. These programs are integrated into the school's curriculum and are designed to promote intra- and interpersonal competencies that are critical for mental health.
Peer Support Programs
Peer support programs involve training students to act as peer supporters or mentors to their classmates. These programs aim to create a supportive school environment where students feel comfortable seeking help and discussing their problems. Peer supporters are trained to listen, offer empathy, and provide guidance on accessing professional help when necessary. This approach leverages the influence of peers to promote mental well-being and reduce stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues.
Implementing these approaches requires a coordinated effort among educators, mental health professionals, students, and the wider school community to create an environment that supports mental health and well-being for all students.
