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

"<< Background >>The project built on the previous work done by MdM-Greece and CUT regarding Psychological First Aid for refugees and migrants. Having initiated this course, MdM-Greece show the new call of as an opportunity to further advance its MHPSS related intervention: adjusting the outputs and experience already gained while also ""operationalizing"" tools produced in the course of the previous project inside the shool setting in favor of the most vulnerable students. Acknowledging the fact that mental health needs and insidents have intensified in Greek and Cyprous schools, as a result of the financial crisis, the reception crisis and the pandemic, the need to pilot and implement simple, handy methodologies that empower the school stakeholders to mitigate crises while essentialy assisting and supporting pupils to overcome them, is evaluated by MdM-Greece and partners as a top prioroty and a course of action that matches not only the vision and mission but also the capacities and know-how of the participating organizations.<< Objectives >>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. << Implementation >>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 settings2. Select and engage teachers and school stakeholders - create (online) communities of learning3. Create a MOOC course on MHPSS/ PFA and train teachers and school stakeholders4. Develop an MHPSS early warning mechanism to timely identify MHPSS emergencies thus mitigate risks foradolescent pupils 5. Pilot the adapted new tool in selected school communities in Greece and Cyprus6. Validate the training material and MHPSS mechanism produced<< Results >>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."