PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

UPRIGHT, “Universal Preventive Resilience Intervention globally implemented in schools to improve and promote mental Health for Teenagers” started on the 1st of January 2018 and will last for 48 months. The project aims to promote mental well-being among adolescents, while preventing mental illnesses in education centres through increasing their resilience capacity.

Early adolescence, from 12 to 14 years of age, is considered a time of major physical, mental, emotional and social changes. There are risk factors, which may lead to mental health disorders and health-risk behaviours for this age group. In this context, working with resilience may become a very valuable tool to improve their capacity to address adverse situations and maintain positive mental health.

UPRIGHT aims to enhance the resilience capacity of teenagers. The project includes the proposal to co-design a resilience programme aimed at teenagers, families, professionals in the fields of education, and education centres, which will be implemented in five pilot countries (Iceland, Italy, Poland, Denmark and the Basque Country – Spain).

MAIN OBJECTIVE: 

To promote mental well-being while preventing mental illnesses in education centres through increasing the resilience capacity of teenagers.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

  • To co-design a holistic intervention programme for teenagers (12-14 years).
  • To validate the effectiveness of the programme at increasing resilience and mental well-being.
  • To provide scientific evidence on specific resilience factors which contribute to promote positive mental well-being.

PROJECT METHODOLOGY:

The work to be done in the 48-month project is divided into work packages:

  • 1: Project coordination (Month 1 – Month 48)
  • 2: Co-design the intervention (Month 1 – Month 9)
  • 3: Adaptation and validation to the local context (Month 1 – Month 9)
  • 4: Pilot implementation and monitoring (Month 6 – Month 48)
  • 5: Assessment and analysis of the results of each pilot (Month 1 – Month 48)
  • 6: Dissemination, scope and policy recommendations (Month 1 – Month 48)

EXPECTED RESULTS:

  • Creation of a culture of mental well-being in the education centres.
  • Develop and implement an effective and universal intervention in the European education centres aimed at teenagers, families and education professionals.
  • Reduce the occurrence of mental disorders and comorbidity.
  • Improve mental well-being among young people in order to:
    • reduce dropping out of school and university in the short term,
    • enhance personal confidence and cognitive function,
    • and improve educational strengths and employability.
  • To improve the levels of well-being among families, teachers, the school environment and the community.
  • To empower teenagers by teaching them coping skills, social-emotional skills and awareness.