Addressing Mental Health Needs in a Rural K-8 School
Location
Culp Center Ballroom
Start Date
4-25-2023 9:00 AM
End Date
4-25-2023 11:00 AM
Poster Number
97
Faculty Sponsor’s Department
Allied Health Sciences
Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor
Randy Byington
Additional Sponsors
Karen Schetzina
Competition Type
Competitive
Type
Poster Presentation
Project's Category
Psychology, Healthcare and Medicine, Education or Instructional Programs
Abstract or Artist's Statement
After the COVID-19 pandemic, a rural K-8 school faced unique challenges due to its isolated location. Faculty members reported increased use of social media and other online communication by students. In addition, the staff noticed an increase in bullying, stress, and a greater need for mental health resources. In partnership with Quillen College of Medicine, a group of 5 medical students implemented lessons from the Alberta Health Services Junior High Mental Health Kit curriculum. Overall, the mission was to improve student attitudes and skills related to healthy relationships, stress, mental illness, cyber bullying, substance abuse, and hope. Analysis of research survey data showed that there was a significant change in students’ overall wellness (p=0.04108) and knowledge of healthy strategies to cope with stress (p=0.03709) after the intervention.
Addressing Mental Health Needs in a Rural K-8 School
Culp Center Ballroom
After the COVID-19 pandemic, a rural K-8 school faced unique challenges due to its isolated location. Faculty members reported increased use of social media and other online communication by students. In addition, the staff noticed an increase in bullying, stress, and a greater need for mental health resources. In partnership with Quillen College of Medicine, a group of 5 medical students implemented lessons from the Alberta Health Services Junior High Mental Health Kit curriculum. Overall, the mission was to improve student attitudes and skills related to healthy relationships, stress, mental illness, cyber bullying, substance abuse, and hope. Analysis of research survey data showed that there was a significant change in students’ overall wellness (p=0.04108) and knowledge of healthy strategies to cope with stress (p=0.03709) after the intervention.