DEVELOPING A TOOL TO ASSESS THE NEED FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID TO ADOLESCENT SCHOOL PUPILS

The implemented project took place in the framework of school education; its objectives prioritized the offer of support to teachers, school leaders and staff that works within school settings, as...

The implemented project took place in the framework of school education; its objectives prioritized the offer of support to teachers, school leaders and staff that works within school settings, as well as the development of key competences towards implementing innovative, inter-disciplinary and inclusive approaches to learning. The project's consortium aspired to empower scholl teachers and other stakeholders involved in schools' operation and upgrade their MHPSS related knowledge, since MHPSS is not a topic included in their mainstream education and learning. In paralel, the project aimed at supporting the most vulnerable pupils inside the school community, such as refugee and migrant children to overcome possible mental health hardships with the help of their teachers, thus also supporting the cultivation of a relation of trust between teachers and pupils.

The project was split into 7 activities (including cross-cutting project management and communication and dissemination), as follows: 1. Assess, adapt and enrich existing MHPSS /PFA assessment tools and best practices to be used in school settings 2. Select and engage teachers and school stakeholders - create (online) communities of learning 3. Create a MOOC course on MHPSS/ PFA and train teachers and school stakeholders 4. Develop an MHPSS early warning mechanism to timely identify MHPSS emergencies thus mitigate risks for adolescent pupils 5. Pilot the adapted new tool in selected school communities in Greece and Cyprus 6. Validate the training material and MHPSS mechanism produced

Through the implementation of the OP.E.N project, the consortium was able to create an online MOOC platform that remains open to access by anyone interested in engaging with a 12-hour lesson on Psychosocial support and PFA for students and pupils. Next to the MOOC, a consolidation of MHPSS and PFA Assessement, Tools, Best practices in School Settings was made and has been made accessible to download through the open.mdmgreece.gr A report of a series of semi-structured interviews was also compiled, where the recommendations and personal reports of teachers and educators from the field were also included. Finally, the OP.E.N project produced a consultative guide for educators and teachers on matters of psychosocial support and PFA, which has been distributed and communicated in a pilot phase with selected school teachers. This Guide is also freely accessible on the project's website.