Wellbeing in upper secondary education

Students´ wellbeing, mood disorders, lack of physical activity and sleep has raised concerns among researchers and health professionals lately. It is known that students’ wellbeing is a sum of many skills, factors and different behaviour. Skills related to wellbeing have also been acknowledged in the new curriculum (Lops 2021). There is a need for new methods and structures to achieve these goals in the upper secondary education.

Our project Wellbeing in the upper secondary education aims to enhance students’ wellbeing skills and abilities to take care of their own health and wellbeing. Actions of the project are based on the activity of peers and the co-operation with teachers and students’ health care workers.

The new wellbeing tutor course for students has been developed and model of ongoing support tested. The project is based on a values-based approach that emphasizes students’ own values, needs and participation as a premise for actions. The goals of different wellbeing actions aim to enhance positive and open climate and wellbeing at the community level.

Background, procedure and goals

• Need: Concerns about students’ wellbeing, stress, physical activity, and sleep
• Development:
  1) wellbeing tutor course
  2) wellbeing meetings (e.g., students, teachers, psychologist)
• Goals: to enhance students’ wellbeing and positive and open climate through regular and ongoing support.