Mental health care program for high school students

Nevypusť duši brings the topic of mental health and well-being (which has often been neglected in the group of young people) to Czech schools. We teach highschoolers how to take care of mental health, we bring prevention and we show them where to seek help. We do it via an interactive evidence based program. In 2020, we adapted the programs to webinars, which enabled us to reach out to students from all over the country. The pandemic showed how important mental health care is, and thanks to the program rapid adaptation, we were able to support the children who needed it very much.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health crises spiked in the Czech Republic. Early intervention and prevention in mental health is a challenge in society. 20% of teenagers suffer from mental health issues and 50% of chronic mental illnesses emerge around 14 years old.

The best way to reach those at risk during their first occurrence of mental illness is in schools. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted our programme to webinars, which allow us to reach more children in the Czech Republic via distance learning. We also provide students and their teachers with information to manage and care for their mental health.

We work with students between 12 and 18 years old and their teachers. Schools can apply and participate in our interactive webinar to support mental health. We also provide students and teachers with additional materials to discuss mental health.

Upon completing our programme, 30% more children know where to seek help for mental health struggles. 150 children sought the help of an expert due to our programme. The programme increases awareness of mental health services, encourages others to seek help, and prevents mental illness for young people and teachers in school.

Through our webinars, we were able to scale the project and reach less accessible regions, which face educational inequalities and where our programmes are needed. Our methodologies can be translated into other languages and incorporated into educational programmes in other EU countries.