Section SOCIETY
TOPIC

Society of Social Psychiatry P. Sakellaropoulos
Living & Learning Together: Raising Awareness, Preventing Mental Disorders, and Strengthening Mental Resilience in School Communities

To strengthen the mental resilience of students, teachers, and parents, prevent mental disorders, and create a positive, inclusive school environment that promotes mental health, well-being, and quality of life.

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11: Sustainable Communities

Students, parents, teachers
School communities, psychologists, social workers
Education officials
 

 Builds on 40 years of SSPPS experience. Implemented systematically as “Living & Learning Together” since 2018.

 

 

"Living and Learning Together: Raising Awareness, Preventing Mental Disorders, and Strengthening Mental Resilience in School Communities" is a modular, multi-faceted program implemented within the school community, focusing on:

  • Raising awareness of mental health issues, available services, and networks
  • Destigmatizing mental illness
  • Primary prevention
  • Promoting rights with an emphasis on inclusion
  • Intervening in in-school crises and external crises affecting the school community
  • Supporting general and special education issues
  • Providing experiential education and psychoeducation for students, parents, and teachers
  • Promoting mental resilience in school communities, enriching their mental lives, and improving their overall mental well-being and quality of life

The program involves holistic, universal, and interdisciplinary mental health interventions that promote well-being and mental health by enhansing mental resilience and enriching the mental lives of participating students, teachers, and parents.

It systematically fosters a non-directive atmosphere, creating an unprecedented, creative, and emotionally safe environment, introducing new knowledge and processes into school life, and aiming to develop communication skills, facilitate expression, and acquire new knowledge to solve problems or crises challenging the school community in Greece.

The program is designed to embrace, include, and connect the school community's triad of "parents, teachers, and students" with mental health specialists and the available forces of the broader community in a reverse dynamic chain, in an unbreakable unity of strengthening mental health and resilience. The experiential interventions are designed, implemented, and evaluated with the active participation of the interested parties at all stages (co-production) and according to the expressed needs of the school units (tailor-made).

Vision and Philosophy:

The vision and philosophy of the program are encapsulated in the tripartite message:

  • Together, better!... easier!... and happier!
  • Together! We change ourselves, change our team, and promote our well-being!
  • Together! For mental resilience, creativity, and skill development

Methodology - Innovation:

The experiential interventions are designed, implemented, and evaluated with active participation from all interested parties at all stages (co-production) and according to the expressed needs of school units (tailor-made).

Systematic use of innovative techniques and methodologies, such as:

  • Co-production and co-creation
  • Active listening
  • An attitude of positivity, complete and unconditional acceptance, love, respect, and trust towards the evolving individual
  • Methodically building an emotional relationship of equality, cooperation, and alliance with all participants, promoting social-group values such as collectivity, solidarity, and equality

Key Features:

  • Tailor-made intervention design for students, parents, and educational staff according to the expressed needs of school communities, students, and parents
  • Holistic, universal, and interdisciplinary experiential interventions designed, implemented, and evaluated with the collaboration and active participation of all stakeholders in all phases of the program
  • Our co-creation approach links mental health with human rights and the psychosocial model of social/community psychiatry
  • Our co-production approach ensures the representation of all stakeholders and the inclusion of diversity without exclusions
  • Evidence-based approach: Use of a combined model and techniques from cutting-edge therapeutic approaches such as psychoanalytic prism, action research, non-directive intervention (NDI), art therapy, theater and art therapies, systemic therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT - TF), drama/dance/music therapy, and psychoeducation
  • Capitalizing on deliverable tools from European Erasmus+ programs
  • Education, psychoeducation, and experiential workshops
  • Networking the school community with mental health professionals and the broader community forces
  • Support for creating bonds between the school and the broader social environment (local mental health services and professionals, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders)

Priority is given to school units facing internal or external crises due to natural disasters or reporting problems with diversity integration (refugees, immigrants, vulnerable groups), violence, delinquency, bullying incidents, anxiety and stress-related behaviors, self-harm incidents, trauma, loss, and grief

Innovative Characteristics for Greek Schools:

The program systematically fosters a non-directive, person-centered climate, creating an unprecedented, creative, and emotionally safe environment for Greek schools, introducing new knowledge and processes into school life. It aims to develop communication skills, facilitate expression, and achieve democratic citizenship through experiential learning to solve problems or crises challenging the school community.

Utilizing the best practices of the program in school life

  • Integrating innovative material into existing school programs (flexible zone, skill workshops, etc.)
  • Creating a climate of "ownership"
  • Utilizing a flexible educational modular program
  • Training teachers in the innovative learning model and psychoeducation to comfortably fulfill their psycho-pedagogical role
  • Enhancing the mental resilience of teachers and parents (experiential seminars, workshops, parent schools, etc.)
  • Offering experiential education and learning: Employing a variety of projection, bodily, and other expressive techniques utilizing artistic, creative, and theatrical expression from various schools, cultures, and traditions.

Collaborations are utilized on a case-by-case basis with:

  • Public and similar entities and Programs in the field of mental health
  • Municipal and regional authorities
  • Local welfare services
  • Civil society organizations related to human rights
  • Volunteers
  • Universities
  • Foundations
  • Local associations, etc.

The interdisciplinary team consists of 65 professionals, 50 volunteers, and interns. Specializations include psychologists, special educators, psychotherapists, speech therapists, and administrative staff.

 

 Regularly applied in the regions of Attica, Fokida, Fthiotida, Evros & Rodopi. Provides nationwide psychosocial support during crises (natural or man-made).

 

 

 Between 2018–2025, the program implemented 1,919 multi-level actions in 733 schools, directly benefiting:

5,876 Teachers
21,163 Students
2,447 Parents
 

Psychosocial support actions in crisis situations:

2023: Flood-affected areas of Magnesia and Thessaly
2021–23: Fire-affected areas of Evia
2023: Fire-affected areas of Evros
2021–23: Connection with the program “No One Alone During the Pandemic”
2018–19: Fire-affected areas of Attica
 

Positive Impact (based on evaluation of the 2018–19 pilot program):

  • Increased awareness of mental health issues
  • Prevention of mental disorders: reduced incidence among students
  • Support in effective school crisis management (tools, knowledge)
  • Strengthened resilience
  • Improved problem-solving skills
  • Stronger psycho-pedagogical bonds between students and teachers
  • Positive change in school climate (supportive environment)
  • Promotion of collaboration and holistic approaches to mental health
  • Timely interventions and continuity of care
  • Connection with existing mental health services (Mobile Units, Day Centers, educational support services, family support services)
  • Development of students’ socio-emotional and soft skills for the 21st century
  • Professional support for educators
     

Results & Evaluation:

Presentation of Results:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1PK2k3WfiXPwxsM8VHPOYPMOARKtT_yQYLd9ZVyiG0iI/edit?usp=sharing

Evaluation of Pilot Program: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-TEe3Kg4_USHtSV8UTL7fRIFV4TxPqe3/view?usp=sharing

The program capitalizes on the 40 years of experience and systematic work of the Society of Social Psychiatry P. Sakellaropoulos (SSPP.S) since its foundation.

Since 2018, it has been consistently implemented under the title “Living & Learning Together”, gaining recognition among thousands of families, educators, and mental health professionals, yielding significant qualitative and quantitative benefits for the organization.

General Outcomes:

  • Strengthening know-how and capacity in multi-level awareness, prevention, and mental health promotion interventions, establishing SSPPS as a model provider in Greece and Europe
  • Enhanced expertise in education & psychoeducation, with standardized methodology and tools
  • Recognition & reinforcement of scientific credibility and prestige through successful implementation and visibility
  • Sustainability: solid foundation for further development and eligibility for European/national programs, grants, and funding
     

Further Achievements:

  1. Recognition & Validation
  • ​​Highlighted as a European Best Practice by the European Commission, featured in the EU Best Practice Portal
  • Selected as Flagship Initiative #18 by the European Commission to combat stigma and discrimination in mental health; presented on 10 October 2024 (World Mental Health Day)
  • Included in the WHO-MOSAIC Toolkit (2024) against stigma and discrimination
  • Honored by WHO during the 3rd Mental Health Week 2024 for its holistic, experiential, and effective methodology (“The SSPPS Pyramid Approach”)
  • Recognized as a good practice by Mental Health Europe and the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive Education
  • Presented at numerous scientific conferences, enhancing credibility

2. Community Integration

  • Strong linkage with local mental health units in Attica, Fokida, Fthiotida, Rodopi, Evros, Magnesia, and Evia

3. Support from Ministry of Education/Institute of Educational Policy (IEP) 

  • Program materials available via IEP Digital Repository 
  • Training of 2,500 teachers & mental health professionals in program tools (Skills Labs, 2020)

4. Crisis Response

  • Nationwide support for schools and families during wildfires, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic

5. Continuous Improvement
Pilot program evaluation confirms adaptability as a large-scale flexible intervention tool
 

6. Social Impact

  • Nearly 2,000 multi-level actions conducted, strengthening empathy and resilience in communities
  • Strong visibility and partnerships with formal education, ministries, local authorities, civil society, universities, and European networks