Together at school intervention programme. A pilot study on the feasibility and perceived benefits of a programme focusing on improving socio-emotional skills among schoolchildren in Finland |
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| Authors: | Kaija Appelqvist-Schmidlechner Antti Liski Maiju Pankakoski Tytti Solantaus Tiina Ojala Mikko Kampman |
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| Affiliation: | 1. National Institute for Health and Welfare, Mental Health Unit, Helsinki, Finlandkaija.appelqvist@thl.fi;3. Statistics Finland, Standards and Methods, Statistics Finland;4. National Institute for Health and Welfare, Mental Health Unit, Helsinki, Finland;5. The Finnish Association for Mental Health, Helsinki, Finland;6. City of Yl?j?rvi, Yl?j?rvi, Finland;7. City of Tampere, Tampere, Finland |
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| Abstract: | The aim of the Together at School Intervention Programme developed for the Finnish school system was to improve socio-emotional skills and prevent psychosocial problems among children (7?12 years). The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and perceived benefits of the programme in order to justify its large-scale implementation for a randomized controlled study. Altogether, 23 classrooms from Grades 1–6 (N = 549, n = 451 children) in four schools participated in the study. Informants were teachers (n = 23), head masters (n = 4), children (n = 451) and their parents. Data were collected by questionnaires at three time points. The different tools assessed were considered to be beneficial for the children by 92?100% of the teachers, and pleasant to participate in by 73?89% of the children. During the follow-up, emotional symptoms reduced significantly among boys. Bullying behaviour was significantly reduced according to both teachers and children. The findings of this pilot study were encouraging. |
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| Keywords: | Children mental health promotion socio-emotional skills school-based programme feasibility study |
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