He academic stressthe anxietyand the depression They are the Mental health problems more common in the educational environment, according to guidance and school psychologists of schools in the country. While world statistics reveal that, one in seven youths between 10 and 19 years suffer from some kind of mental disorder.
So, take care of the Mental health of children and adolescents is vital, and educational centers, as one of the most frequented environments by them, must be prepared to address these situations in an integral way.
“The Mental health It is a priority, since it promotes the balance between him Emotional well -beingpsychological and social, allowing each member of the Educational Community He can feel good, he develops fully and in a healthy way in his environment, “said Awilda Carrión, school psychologist and psychopedagogue technician of Fe y Alegría schools in the country.
The specialist in Mental health He explained that they exist protocols and tools To determine if a student presents situations that affect your Emotional developmentamong them the protocol for the support network of the Psycho -Emotional Support Center (CAPEM) implemented by the Ministry of Education from the Pandemia, which seeks to identify, refer and do follow-up to the psycho -emotional needs of the students.
The phases
The first phase of this is the observation, with which it seeks to analyze whether there are behaviors in the student that generate “alert”. According to Carrión, in that sense, the Teachers They perform An essential role. Teachers are the first detention line, who having contacts daily with students may notice changes that indicate a problem.
“Within its role Teachers They must: detect alert signals, such as social withdrawal, unusual irritability, persistent demotivation or concentration difficulties and offer accompaniment immediate, “he explained.
He pointed out that in the schools of Fe y Alegría they combine this protocol with their own policies, with which they seek to show the students that school is a safe space and it is necessary to guide them in their psycho -affective recovery.
Emotional containment and search for support
After the problem detected, the Emotional containment by a teacher u Counselor trained, “consists of providing support, accompaniment and a safe space to the students so that they can recognize, express and regulate their emotions in an adequate way, “explained Ana Lucía Alcántara Carrasco, guiding of the Israel State School, in Santo Domingo Oeste.
He stressed that the following is to search support of a professional and inform the family of the affected situation.
- “When parents or guardians are not receptive to the Emotional situation of your children, the educational center must activate other ways of accompaniment and protection, always respecting the protocols institutional and legal, “he said.
He also indicated that in case a student present suicidal ideas They must send them to services Mental health specialized, and provide support school, with follow-up constant.
Another important part of the protocol is the follow-up and accompaniment of the affected studentafter the Emotional situation is in the hands of professionalsthe protocol establishes that a follow-up to the behavior of studente coordinated intervention together with relatives and Teachersexplained Rossy Guzmán, school psychologist School of Israel.
Although schools have counselor and psychologist, their roles are different. According to Minerd el Counselor addresses Formative processes and preventive within the classroom, while the psychologist is responsible for clinical or greater depth situations, such as behavioral disorders or severe emotional problems. However, in required cases they refer to Health specialists external
Student Welfare Program
He National Student Welfare Institute (INABIE) recently reported that he included a Psychological Health Service For children and adolescents of the public system that have emotional effects associated with conditions of visual, auditory, mouth, nutritional or epidemiological health, previously diagnosed.
- The director of the Institution Adolfo Pérez indicated that the program seeks to support psychological to those students who receive care in the health divisions of INABIE and who, as a consequence of their physical conditionsthey can present Emotional difficulties.
The initiative includes individual therapy for students victims of bullying or discrimination, accompaniment Emotional and guidance to strengthen self -esteem, psychoeducational workshops on the prevention of bully support.
