The “ELPIDA” Prevention Centre has been implementing programmes for teachers, students and parents for 25 years, with topics that vary according to their needs. More specifically, our proposal includes: A) the implementation of long-term mental health programs for students while supporting the participating teachers. The long-term programs are:
- “Meeting the Other” , aiming to develop and promote healthy, constructive relationships, both within the school community and outside it, in everyday life.
- “Games and the Internet: preventing the risks of use”, aiming to develop protective factors for a safe and smart use of technology, free from abusive and addictive behaviours. The programme is aimed exclusively at pupils in grades 4, 5 and 6.
- “Smoking? Not us”, aimed at preventing smoking, which is addressed exclusively to students in grades 4, 5 and 6 and is accompanied by awareness-raising material for parents.
- “Addictions”, aimed at preventing the development of addictive behaviours, which is addressed exclusively to students in grades 4, 5 and 6.
- “Sexual Education”, aiming at the development of a healthy sexuality of children with respect to themselves and others, addressed exclusively to students of grades 5 and 6.
- “I feel safe in my school” aimed at preventing violence in school and creating a climate of safety and trust (addressed to all classes).
- “Life Values in Education” , aiming at the exploration and creative assimilation of life values by students (addressed to all grades).
- “Mental Health – Strengthening Self-Esteem” with the aim of developing a sense of self-esteem and self-acceptance (addressed to all classes).
The structure of the programmes is as follows:
- Implementation of an introductory training seminar (2 days, 11 hours) for teachers, aiming at the understanding of basic concepts of the programme on the one hand and familiarisation with experiential learning techniques on the other hand.
- Supervision team for teachers, coordinated by staff of the “ELPIDA” Prevention Centre. The aim of this team will be to support teachers in the implementation of the educational material to students. The duration of each meeting will be 2 hours, depending on the number of participants. The total number of supervisory meetings will be determined with each group.
- Parallel application of the educational material of the programme by the teachers to the students(10 two-hour sessions).
Participants will receive a certificate of participation after the end of the seminar and the implementation of the programme to the students.
B) In order to respond to the needs that have arisen from the implementation of skill-building programmes, ELPIDA has adapted the following educational materials:
| Material | Classes | Thematic section |
| “If all the children of the earth” | Α’ & B’ Primary School | “I care and I act”, Sub-unit : “Respect and Diversity”. |
| “Mental health: Strengthening self-esteem” | All classes of primary school | “Living better – Well-being”, Subsection: Mental Health and Emotional Health – Prevention. |
| “Meeting the Other”
| All classes of the Primary School | “Living better – Well-being”, Subsection: Mental Health and Emotional Health – Prevention |
| “I feel safe in my school”
| All classes of the primary school | “I am interested and active. Social awareness and responsibility”, Subsection: Human rights and inclusion |
| “Sexuality in adolescence: risks and protective factors” | 6th Primary School, Secondary School & High School | “Living better – Well-being”, Subsection: Knowing my body – Sexual education
|
| “Games and the Internet: Preventing the risks of use” | D’, E’ & Grades 5 and 6 of primary school | “Living better – Well-being”, Sub-module: Mental Health and Emotional Health – Prevention of Addictions |
Following the expression of interest, the following will be scheduled: a) the implementation of a two-day training seminar and b) supervision and support meetings for the implementation of the material on an individual or group level.
C) Implementation of short term mental health programmes for students while supporting the teachers involved. These programmes are:
- School violence(includes 3 teaching hours for students and 2 meetings for teachers)
- Conflict management (includes 2 teaching hours for students and 2 meetings for teachers)
- Sexuality in adolescence(includes for students 2 2-hour teaching hours, for teachers 2 meetings and for parents a 2-hour workshop).
All of the above interventions are universal. This means that our collaboration with a school unit requires the participation of a group of teachers – 8-12 people – who will implement a specific educational material in 2023-24. We also address teachers with 6-hour trainings, without applying materials to students, as well as with talks. The topics are derived from the needs of the educational community. Parents are addressed in the following ways:
- Parent groups of 10 two-hour meetings, with topics related to the needs of infancy (boundaries, emotions, aggression, etc.)
- Speeches to parents, whose topics may arise from cooperation with the school unit and the PTA.
- Parent workshops of 3 two-hour sessions, focused on a topic that emerges from the needs of the school community and the family at a given time.
- Individual counselling to parents on issues that make it difficult for them in their role.
