hope studies central

school mental health

SHARP-SMH: Strengths, Hope and Resourcefulness Program for School Mental Health

SHARP-SMH is a positive psychology, strengths-focused program for fostering student and teacher mental health and wellbeing. SHARP-SMH is an empirically supported program of interventions and practices developed at Hope Studies Central. The goal of SHARP-SMH is sustainable, effective mental health programming in schools. Research tells us that 15-25 % of children & youth suffer at least one mental health problem, while 33% teachers leave in the first three years (Brill & McCartney, 2008). Compounded with a global pandemic and, there has never been greater need for positive mental health education and support in schools - for both teachers and students. SHARP-SMH is adapted from the previous programs led by members of the same research team, Strengths, Hope and Resourcefulness Program for People with Parkinson's (SHARP-PWP) and Being Hopeful in the Face of Chronic Pain (BHFCP).

SHARP-SMH uses a participatory mixed-method design over two phases and places a strong value on offering clear program direction, while maintaining a very collaborative, co-constructed approach with teachers and schools. SHARP-SMH teaches about basic positive mental health practices that are effective for teachers and students.

Phase 1

In-person/online workshops for teachers. Teachers learn to use hope and strength strategies in the context of the challenges in their own lives. They begin to develop a plan for how hope might be implemented in their own classrooms. Interested teachers and the research team collaboratively create SHARP-SMH school curriculum and materials to be used in Phase II.

Phase 2

Participating teachers and school leaders begin SHARP implementation in their own classrooms and schools. As part of the project, students will engage in hope activities and create hope-related artworks. SHARP team members will be available for consult and support.

To learn more about the project and how you might be involved, please visit the SHARP-SMH website!

Presentations

Hobbs, C., Hudson Breen, R., Holt, R., Edey, W., Larsen, D. J., Badger, A., Lee, J. (2020, July 6 – August 28). Adapting a strengths- and hope-based program for schools within a changing context. [Poster Presentation]. 81st Canadian Psychological Association Annual National Convention, Montréal, Quebec, Canada. (Virtual presentation due to COVID -19)

Hudson Breen, R., Hobbs, C., Lee, J., & Larsen, D. (2020, May). Strengths, hope and resources program for school mental health (SHARP-SMH) (Poster Presentation). Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) Conference, Edmonton, Canada. Cancelled due to COVID-19.

Hudson Breen, R., Holt, R., Larsen, D. J., Edey, W., Hobbs, C. (2020, January). Strengths, Hope, and Resources Program for Schools (Oral Presentation). Cannexus20: National Career Development Conference, Ottawa, Canada.

Edey, W. (2019). Finding hope: Supporting student and teacher hope in bad times and good. Alberta Teachers’ Association School Counsellor Workshop. WP Wagner School. Nov. 23, 2019.

Larsen, D., Hudson-Breen, R., & Hobbs, C. (2019). Growing from strength: Working with hope at school. Presented at Jan Reimer School (elementary & middle school). School start Pro-D day. August 28, 2019. Edmonton, AB.

Hudson-Breen, R., Holt, R., Larsen, D., Edey, W., & Hobbs, C. (2019). Investigating the Strengths, Hope, and Resources Program for School Mental Health. Canadian Psychological Association Convention 2019, Halifax, NS.

Hobbs, C., Edey, W., Holt, R., Hudson-Breen, R., Larsen, D., & Cherrington, A. (2019). The Strengths, Hope and Resourcefulness Program for Teachers (SHARP-T). Canadian Psychological Association Convention 2019, Halifax, NS.

Hudson-Breen, R., Holt, R., Larsen, D., Edey, W., & Hobbs, C. (2019). Investigating the Hope, Strengths and Resources Program for School Mental Health. Presented at ENGAGE: 2019: Faculty of Education Celebration of Research and Teaching, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, March.

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