This second meeting between the partners was held on 6 and 7 February 2019 in the city of Trento, Italy.  The UPRIGHT project, “Universal Preventive Resilience Intervention Globally implemented in schools to improve and promote mental Health for Teenagers”, aims to promote mental well-being and prevent mental illnesses by increasing resilience in teenagers. The study is aimed at teenagers between the ages of 12 and 14.

Kronikgune is the European-level coordinator of the consortium formed with six other partners. Osakidetza also collaborates in different working areas, such as assessing the impact of the programme deployed in schools in all pilot regions.

The aim of the consortium meetings held twice a year is to follow-up on progress to date, plan tasks to be carried out in the next period and synchronise work between consortium members.

Kronikgune opened the day by offering participants a review of the work done during the first year of the project. Throughout this period, work has been done on developing an effective and universal resilience programme aimed at teenagers, families, education professionals and schools. The programme seeks to increase the teenagers’ self-confidence and cognitive function, empowering them in coping, socio-emotional and awareness skills, reducing school drop-out and improving the well-being of the family, teachers, school environment and the community.

Kronikgune also presented the next steps in the evaluation and assessment of the project. The Icelandic Directorate of Health team presented the work done on dissemination and the policy recommendations that are expected once the intervention has been assessed. The contribution of all the partners was essential to identifying the areas for improvement and the necessary strategies for the second phase of the project, which will start in September 2019 together with the beginning of the new 2019-20 academic year.

Of particular mention is the presence of Dr. Nicoletta Zanetti, from the Trento Department of Training and Culture, who stressed their unconditional support for the project. UPRIGHT could become an essential tool for the school communities in the Trento region to address the lack of knowledge in mental health care and to improve the well-being of teenagers and their immediate setting (family and teachers).

For further information about the project, visit the official website: www.uprightproject.eu