EEMTI Joaquim Bastos Gonçalves

Tackling mental health issues with a culture of support and empathy

EEMTI Joaquim Bastos Gonçalves, a government secondary school in Carnaubal, Ceará, Brazil, has provided a lifeline to students struggling to reintegrate society since the COVID-19 pandemic, but also created a culture of support and empathy throughout the school community. With a 67% drop in just 18 months in students requiring social and emotional support, the school’s Adopt a Student project has not only improved the lives of pupils, but has also raised awareness about the importance of mental health within the school community and beyond.

In a community where violence and other emotional behaviours have been commonplace among students, the school became aware of new anxieties affecting community children as society began to open back up at the end of the pandemic lockdowns. Within the school itself, as much as 6% of the student population were eventually diagnosed with severe emotional problems, including self-harm.

As a result, the school developed the Adopt a Student project to identify vulnerable students, provide them with assistance from a professional psychologist, help the students work more effectively on socio-emotional skills in classrooms, and educate the school community about the importance of mental health.

The school first presented the project to the parents and local governing body to help explain its objectives and increase its reach. Students then either refer themselves to the programme or are referred by their parents or teachers. From there, the school enrols them in the project. Because there is a stigma attached to mental health in the community, some students resist being entered into the programme and can therefore only be encouraged.

Of the original number at the project's launch in September 2021, less than 10 students still continue to be assisted. Those who have received support have reported improvements in their self-esteem and overall well-being, resulting in better academic performance and a renewed sense of hope. The project has also seen an increase in community support and engagement.

If EEMTI Joaquim Bastos Gonçalves wins the World's Best School Prize for Supporting Healthy Lives, the school intends to use the prize to expand its Adopt a Student project and provide more support to students struggling with mental health issues. The school also plans to collaborate with other schools in the region to promote a culture of mental health and wellness.