Salesians hold workshops to teach staff about mental health challenges and strategies
Spain
(mission news wire) The Salesian Social Platform Provincial Coordination Office in Madrid organized a workshop for Salesian staff on “A comprehensive approach to children, young people and educational teams”. The workshop provided practical tools to effectively address the mental health issues faced by young people supported in Salesian centers across Spain. A focus was placed on ensuring that the integration and normalization of mental health support in educational planning remained a priority.
Father Luis Fernando López Martínez opened the workshop with a presentation on the importance of understanding mental health from a broader perspective. He emphasized the complexity of the issue and the importance of defining a strategy for instructional teams to manage throughout the year. He also focused on how young people face increased emotional vulnerability due to overexposure and social comparison through the digital age and social networks.
The next day, María José Ortega Cabrera addressed mental health problems in children and adolescents, categorized according to their severity. Her challenges were discussed and she provided guidelines for dealing with them. She also emphasized how to differentiate between typical behavior and behavior that may indicate a deeper problem. Her goal has always been to secure care for young people at Salesian centers.
The workshop also included members of the Magone Psychology Team, a resource available to all Salesian Centers. One Salesian said: “This part of the workshop will emphasize the importance of prevention as a fundamental method of mental health care, healthy habits and mental “We focused on promoting self-care.” Go to the Salesian Center. Concrete protective measures were presented and the need to promote a safe environment and encourage prevention from an early age was reiterated. ”
The workshop concluded with presentations on the application of mental health support in social education, advocacy and volunteer settings. Participants shared their reflections and what they learned. Mutual sharing of thoughts and experiences enriched the entire workshop and freed up time for peer-to-peer support.
Salesian missionaries have also worked for many years to provide educational and workforce development opportunities to Spain’s poor youth and women through residential, technical, and vocational training programs.
Nearly 32% of Spain’s young workers under the age of 25 are unemployed, and an increasing number are unable to afford essential food. Poor young people with few employable skills have the hardest time finding and keeping stable jobs.
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ANS – Spain – Founded to care for the mental health of children and young people
Salesian Mission – Spain
World Bank – Spain