Background 

There is a high level of education in the Nordic countries and by many measures we live in a welfare society.  However, during the last decade, the state of students' mental health has decreased significantly. For example, in Finland, it has been estimated that 15% of the students who complete their comprehensive education have inadequate skills for secondary education. This concerns not only students’ mental health problems, but students also lack learning skills, school motivation, as well as everyday life skills. 

General concern about students' well-being has grown. Equally concerning is the students’ future ability to cope with secondary studies and working life. There is a growing need to understand the factors related to mental well-being and to develop new approaches to promote students’ well-being at schools. Scientific evidence suggests consistently that students' mental well-being promotes learning motivation and supports learning processes, memory, and creativity. Students' well-being is strongly connected to social atmosphere. Well-being at school and inclusive community play an important role in students' motivation and ability to learn. 

Objectives and methods 

The goal of this two-year project is to promote the mental health and well-being of students and prevent school dropouts and social exclusion. We will bring together students from the Nordic countries to emphasize the differences and similarities in lifestyles. In addition, we will promote the themes related to well-being that young people have irrespective of country or residential area. The common Nordic cultural heritage creates the basis of the developmental work in the project. 

In the project, we will apply a social pedagogical approach at the schools.  The project activities will emphasize the importance of students’ individual responsibility as a member of the community. We will develop methods that utilize students' interests and special strengths. For example, riding and horse care can promote well-being at school. 

Results 

The methods developed during the project will improve students' well-being and coping with the school community. Students will be able to better identify their opportunities and personal resources both as individuals and as members of the community. In addition, we will enhance co-operation between professional groups that support welfare in preventing marginalization. The common Nordic heritage and the different operating models and traditions of different countries and schools enable the development and implementation of new sustainable methods.