ProMenteSã: A teacher training intervention program for mental health promotion at schools

Abstract

Objective: To promote mental health at schoolsthrough a training intervention program for teachers of the 2nd (5th and 6th years) and 3rd (7th, 8th and 9th years) Cycles of Basic Education. Method: Non-experimental analytical study conducted as part of the MAISaúdeMental (More Mental Health) Project (ref. number: 01-0145-FEDER-023293). After identifying needs in teachers’ mental health training, the ProMenteSã training intervention program was designed to train teachers of the 2nd and 3rd Cycles of Basic Education to promote mental health in children and adolescents within the school setting. The full program was applied to 13 teachers who were mainly women (11, 84.6%) with a mean age of 51.00 ±6,58 years, married, and living in urban settings. Efficacy and acquisition of mental health knowledge and literacy were assessed with a questionnaire applied before and after the training intervention program. Results: When comparing the two samples (before and after the training intervention program), no significant differences in efficacy were found. However, when assessing the acquisition of mental health knowledge, after the application of the ProMenteSã Program teachers showed a significant increase in knowledge areas “Abuse and dependence — New behaviors of addiction” (p=0.03) and “Significance of sleep in promoting mental health” (p=0.04). Conclusion: The training intervention program increased teachers’ mental health knowledge for promotion of health.