“Supportive School” – the launch of a new Adamed Foundation programme in collaboration with the “Życie warte jest rozmowy” Foundation

86% of respondents who took part in a survey commissioned by Adamed believe that Poland needs more support for schools and parents in the field of psychological assistance for children and the youth. To improve students’ mental wellbeing, the Adamed Foundation has partnered with the Życie warte jest rozmowy Foundation to lead the “Supportive School” project. The aim of the programme is to build a supportive environment for young people in mental health crisis.

The statistics concerning the problems faced by the youngest generations are alarming, and their numbers are growing every year. According to data from the National Police Headquarters, the number of suicide attempts committed by young Polish nationals is growing. In 2022, more than 2,000 suicide attempts were reported among people aged under 19.  According to a report by the “Życie warte jest rozmowy” website, the incidence of suicidal behaviour grew by 77%, while the number of suicides increased by 19% between 2021 and 2020.

In response to the challenges related to the youth’s deteriorating mental health, Adamed Foundation has teamed up with leading mental health experts affiliated with the “Życie warte jest rozmowy” website. Thanks to this partnership, the Adamed Foundation is launching the “Supportive School” pilot project at the beginning of the new school year. The initiative is implemented under the auspices of the Polish Psychiatric Society and the Polish Society of Suicidology. Adamed Pharma is a partner.

“Supportive School” is a programme addressed to primary and secondary school students, their parents and teachers, intended to help prevent suicidal behaviours and build awareness among teachers, parents and peers. It teaches the participants about the best ways to support young people in crisis, where to look for assistance and how to provide it.

“In line with Adamed’s mission statement ‘We respond to the key challenges in contemporary medicine’, Adamed Foundation has decided to address the problem of deteriorating mental health of children and the youth, which has become a challenge for us as a society following the pandemic. Together with substantive experts, we have created the “Supportive School” programme to effectively support schoolchildren’s mental health. We will build awareness of mental health issues among children, adolescents, teachers and parents. We will act pre-emptively to prevent suicidal attempts, because some of them may lead to a tragic end. We provide teachers and parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively prevent suicidal behaviour among young people. Schools which participate in the programme will use the name ‘Supportive Schools’,” said Małgorzata Adamkiewicz, MD, PhD, President of the Adamed Foundation’s Management Board.

“We are proud that we can implement this socially relevant project together with the Adamed Foundation. The programme not only focuses on supporting students, but also educates teachers and parents about coping with emotional difficulties. It is an important step towards prevention and building a healthy environment for the little ones, to ensure that they can develop safely and securely,” says Halszka Witkowska, Ph.D., the initiator and coordinator of the “Życie warte jest rozmowy” initiative and co-organizer of the “Supportive School” programme.

According to a study carried out by the Ariadna Nationwide Study Panel between 11 and 14 August 2023 upon Adamed Pharma’s request, 54% of parents of schoolchildren believe that Polish schools do not offer sufficient access to psychological services and only 27% of parents have confirmed that their children’s schools organized meetings with parents about students’ mental health, e.g. focusing on preventing suicides or on fighting depression. In addition, 86% of respondents believe that more support is needed for schools and parents with respect to psychological assistance for children and the youth, while 69% claim that schools do not offer sufficient access to psychological services.

Jacek Chmiel, Principal of the Jigoro Kano Charter Primary School No. 26 in Warsaw, which takes part in Adamed Foundation’s programme explains:

“We are delighted to be among the first schools to have the opportunity to take part in the “Supportive School” pilot programme. Every day, as we watch our students, we realize how important mental health support it. This programme offers some tools which help us to cope with emotional difficulties and support the process of creating a friendly atmosphere at school. They help to train the faculty, parents and students about being mindful and teach them how to spot a person going through a crisis. The ultimate goal is to help them or to know where to look for help.”

The first workshops and educational activities will soon start in 5 selected facilities as part of the pilot stage of this project. The schools which take advantage of the full package offered under the programme will receive the “Supportive School” Certificate.

Detailed information about the programme, its guidelines, duration, participating schools, patronages and specialists are available on the website of the project: www.wspierajacaszkola.pl.