When seventh-grade health teacher Ben Leven invited psychologist Mary Alvord, PhD, to talk to his Buffalo Grove, Illinois, middle school students about stress, Alvord didn't have to leave her Rockville, Maryland, office. Alvord was broadcast into the classroom with the help of "Let's Talk about Mental Health," a joint project with Microsoft and Skype in the Classroom to bring psychology lessons into the classroom via Skype.
More than 100 APA members have volunteered as presenters for the program, through which psychologists and teachers work together to plan 50-minute presentations about anger and depression, resilience or anxiety, says Rhea K. Farberman, APA's executive director for Public and Member Communications. "The program will help destigmatize mental health and spread awareness," says Farberman. "It is really a great opportunity."
For their class, Leven and Alvord agreed to teach the students different ways to cope with the intense stress of school, such as visualization and muscle relaxation. By teaching younger children about techniques for coping with stress, Alvord says, psychologists and teachers can help prevent unhealthy coping behaviors later in the students' lives.
As part of the lesson, Alvord asked students to discuss stressors and categorize them as little, medium or large. She then had one student hold books that represented each stressor to demonstrate how stress builds. Next the students listed healthy methods to cope with stress, and after each one was named a book was removed from the pile.
The kids responded well to the program and gave great feedback about Alvord, Leven says. As students walked out, they told him the lesson was "cool" and that they learned new ways of handling stress. "The kids loved it," Leven says.
— Heather Mongilio
