The collaboration with the online psychologists at Lifekeys will help young people struggling with mental health challenges. Mental health and life mastery is one of the interdisciplinary themes in the subject renewal (Kunnskapsløftet 2020).
itslearning is today launching its own digital service to help students in Norway cope with anxiety and take care of their own mental health in everyday life. Mental health problems are a major challenge for Norwegian society today. Mental illnesses often make it difficult to complete education, work and participate in society. 1
The new service, itslearning life skills developed in collaboration with Lifekeys, an online psychology service in Bergen, is aimed at secondary school students aged 14 to 16. According to the World Health Organisation 2, half of all mental health problems occur before the age of 14, but most go undetected and untreated. Adolescence is a formative phase of life. Physical, emotional and social changes can make young people vulnerable to mental health challenges.
According to a research article from Oslo University Hospital, based on international research, young people who struggle mentally are more likely to develop behavioral problems and abuse substances. 3
Easily accessible tools for managing anxiety
The itslearning Life Mastery courses are self-paced, with different learning paths, guides, checklists and videos along the way, to provide information and guidance to students who have experienced new challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, such as school closures, not being able to spend time with friends, anxiety and general low mood.
"This has been a particularly difficult year for many young people and their families. We therefore want to focus on mental health and life skills training for young people themselves. Students will learn basic skills through video tutorials, while teachers will have access to tools that will help them to best assist students, as well as take care of their own mental health. Unfortunately, teacher burnout is a widespread problem in Norway. "
Nils Viken, Head of itslearning Norway
In recent years, awareness of mental health has changed in Norway. 85% of participants in the 2018 Health Policy Barometer felt it was important for young people to learn about mental health in school to better understand themselves and face life's challenges in a positive way.4,5
Public health and life skills component
The tools are available to all schools in Norway through the itslearning platform and fit in with public health and life mastery as an interdisciplinary theme under Fagfornyelsen, which focuses on promoting good mental health among young people. Schools not currently using itslearning can get access through an external site.
We are very excited to be working with itslearning to do our part for Norway's future. Mental health disorders are among the most common - and misunderstood - health issues today. This collaboration is an important step in making a change and creating better mental health for the most vulnerable - our youngest. "
Gudmundur Ebenezer, CEO, Lifekeys
The course content will help teachers identify and support students who may be suffering in silence. Teachers are then better able to help students build the skills and learn the methods to avoid negative experiences that can affect their physical and mental health, both as adolescents and into adulthood.
Sources:
- https://nordicwelfare.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/norge_webb-1.pdf
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
- https://blogg.forskning.no/forskningssykehuset/hvorfor-er-det-farligere-for-ungdom-a-ruse-seg-enn-voksne/1093380
- https://www.nrk.no/osloogviken/na-skal-psykisk-helse-inn-pa-timeplanen-1.13997793
- https://kantar.no/kantar-tns-innsikt/helsepolitisk-barometer-2018/
Facts about itslearning
Global award-winning learning platform for schools and universities in 10 countries. Since 1999, itslearning has been building technology that supports learning and helps students realize their potential. Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, the company delivers services to millions of users around the world.
For more information, contact:
Johnny Anderson,
Communications Manager itslearning
johnny.anderson@itslearning.com
Phone: 932 40 192