Students, inclusivity, and mental health
This blog post has been written by Liina Melanie Sarapik, our Chief Impact Officer
Last week I had the opportunity to join a webinar hosted by the Estonian LGBT Association (Eesti LGBT Ühing, lgbt.ee) on the newspaper Postimees’s Education Portal.* It was the final event of Estonian LGBT Association’s project which provided educational materials, workshops, and a country-wide campaign. The theme of the panel discussion was “Who is afraid of LGBT+ students?” and discussion revolved around the results of the research, workshops and campaigning that had been done in the past year. A few important facts brought out from the first study done on school environments for LGBT+ students:
School is significantly less safe for LGBT+ students, who are targeted because of their LGBT+ identity
68% of LGBT+ students have experienced mental abuse
60% LGBT+ students have heard other students making negative comments about LGBT+ people; 57% have heard such comments from teachers and other school staff.
The key takeaway message was that there are LGBT+ youth who do not feel safe at school. While this is not necessarily surprising, it is all the same heartbreaking and frustrating.
Triumf Health supports the mental health and well being–including safety–of all children. And we have been working with schools in Estonia and other countries to try to help support all students.
Our mobile game provides children (7-12) the opportunity to play a game that actually supports the child’s mental health and well being, including promoting a sense of safety. With a sidekick always by their side, the child is able to navigate a city, meet new people, and do different activities, all of which provide this support, in an evidence-based way (Our team includes a psychologist and psychological counselor/creative arts therapist!).
Innovation makes mental health and wellbeing support more accessible, no matter where you are. Innovation has been especially valuable since the beginning of the pandemic, as kids have spent so much time at home from school, and connecting with outside supports has been hard if not impossible.
In December 2021, I joined Dr. Kadri in visiting a school that was in-person at the time. We were invited to speak with two 4th grade classes about mental health and the Triumfland Saga game as part of the school’s bully-free day. The children participated actively in our discussions about mental health, and they were beyond excited about the Triumfland Saga game - they could not wait to go home and try it! The teachers were also interested in learning about Triumfland Saga, especially after hearing about how many of the activities within the game can actually be done outside of the game as well!
For years we have advocated for children’s mental health and wellbeing. By attending different events to support other organizations (such as the Estonian LGBT Association), going to schools to talk to students about mental health, and promoting general advocacy and awareness wherever we can. Our commitment to children’s mental health and wellbeing is neverending.
Once again, Triumf Health is inclusive of all children, and we are here to support the mental health and well being of children around the world, in a way that’s accessible to everyone!
If you'd like to know more, or talk to us about how we might be able to help support your school, student or child, please reach out! We would be more than happy to connect.
Take care,
Liina
*The discussion panel was made up of the Ministry of Education and Research's Department of Inclusive Education head Jürgen Rakaselg, educational psychologist Grete Arro, the chairman of the Estonian Association of Student Unions (Eesti Õpilasesinduste Liit) Anette Viin, and the Estonian LGBT+ Association's executive and training manager Kristel Rannaääre, and was moderated by Triin Toomesaar. The event (in Estonian) can be viewed here: https://haridus.postimees.ee/7413657/kes-kardab-lgbt-opilasi