Evaluation of an Educator-Delivered School-Based Stress Management Program for Adolescents

  • Dana Carsley McGill University
  • Jessica Mettler McGill University
  • Amy J. Shapiro McGill University
  • Devin J. Mills McGill University
  • Elana L. Bloom Lester B. Pearson School Board
  • Nancy L. Heath McGill University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36510/learnland.v10i2.802
Keywords: StressOFF Strategies (SOS), educator, student

Abstract

This study sought to determine if educators could deliver StressOFF Strategies (SOS), a brief classroombased stress management program (Shapiro & Heath, 2013) to students and to evaluate educators’ perspectives on SOS delivery. Seventeen educators participated in a two-day training and delivered the program to 555 adolescents (51.4% female; Mage = 14.45 years, SD = 0.74). Student evaluations revealed equivalent student satisfaction with educator and SOS team delivery on students’ program rating; furthermore, 100% of educators strongly agreed (38.5%) or agreed (61.5%) that SOS was relevant, met their expectations, and was feasible within their school. Implications for schools and educators will be discussed.

Author Biographies

Dana Carsley, McGill University

Dana Carsley, BEd, MEd, is an elementary school teacher and a PhD student in McGill University’s Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology. Dana has worked as a teacher and special needs tutor for students at all levels. Her research focuses on classroom interventions to promote mental health, specifically teacher-led mindfulness and stress management programs. She has published several papers on mindfulness in educational settings, and has presented at numerous academic conferences and teacher workshops. She is a Tomlinson Scholar, and recipient of the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Doctoral Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Jessica Mettler, McGill University

Jessica Mettler, BA, is a graduate student in the Human Development program at McGill University. Her research interests focus on the role of mindfulness in promoting mental health and well-being. She has experience in the development and evaluation of short mindfulness and stress management training programs for high school students, postsecondary students and mental health professionals. She has also published papers and presented at academic conferences and teacher workshops on stress management and mindfulness in educational settings. Finally, Jessica has been the recipient of a Master’s Research Scholarship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture.

Amy J. Shapiro, McGill University

Amy Shapiro, BEd, MEd, is a secondary school teacher and is currently working on her PhD in Human Development in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University. She developed the StressOFF Strategies program with Dr. Nancy Heath in 2013, which has since been delivered to thousands of students in English language school boards in Montreal and surrounding areas. Amy has published several papers on stress and other mental health issues in the schools, and has presented at various academic conferences and workshops. She is also a recipient of a doctoral scholarship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture.

Devin J. Mills, McGill University

Devin J. Mills is a PhD Candidate at McGill University with an interest in applying Self-Determination Theory to the broad areas of adaptive and maladaptive functioning. His work currently surrounds problematic gaming, but has in the past included studies on non-suicidal self-injury and mindfulness within adolescent and young adult populations. He is a current member of the Development and Intrapersonal Resilience Research Team.

Elana L. Bloom, Lester B. Pearson School Board

Elana Bloom, PhD, is a psychologist at the Lester B. Pearson School Board, having worked in elementary and high schools supporting students with mental health concerns and equipping staff to better understand mental health. Dr. Bloom is currently the Coordinator of the Family School and Support Treatment Team, a model in schools composed of behavioral technicians and consultants to support students with socioemotional and mental health concerns. She is also the Coordinator of the Center of Excellence for Mental Health team, where she provides workshops and builds capacity for school staff across the 10 English school boards in Quebec.

Nancy L. Heath, McGill University

Nancy L. Heath, PhD, is a James McGill Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology at McGill University. Her research centers on understanding and enhancing intrapersonal resilience in youth and young adults with a focus on factors related to emotion regulatory processes. She has published and presented extensively in this area and more broadly on issues pertaining to mental health in schools. Professor Heath conducts both basic and applied research, always with a strong knowledge translation and service emphasis. She has worked for over 25 years in partnership with schools to address mental health concerns in the schools.

Vol 10 No 2 (2017): Fostering Health and Well-Being in Education
Published
2017-07-05
How to Cite
Carsley, D., Mettler, J., Shapiro, A. J., Mills, D. J., Bloom, E. L., & Heath, N. L. (2017). Evaluation of an Educator-Delivered School-Based Stress Management Program for Adolescents. LEARNing Landscapes, 10(2), 73-89. https://doi.org/10.36510/learnland.v10i2.802
Issue
Vol 10 No 2 (2017): Fostering Health and Well-Being in Education
Section
Articles