In an effort to help ease teen’s transition from primary to high school and to help other children deal with similar stressful situations, the Centre for Studies on Human Stress at the Douglas mental health university Institute has developed the DeStress for Success Project. This project will begin trial education sessions this fall with funding received by the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD).

Teens who are entering their first year of high school may be especially vulnerable to feeling stressed, according to a study performed by the Douglas’ Centre for Studies on Human Stress. This may lead to learning difficulties and, in extreme cases, put them at risk for developing more serious disorders such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

“Transition to high school marks the first major change in status for a child,” says Sonia Lupien, PhD, director of the Centre for Studies on Human Stress. ”The objective of the DeStress for Success Program is to foster understanding of stress so that these children and teens are prepared to prevent and manage stressful situations now and in the future. This is the first time that such a program will be tested and positive results could have a major impact for our children and teenagers.”

More than 500 children will participate in the pilot project which will inform them about the effects of stress on learning and mental health and offer them coping strategies. The scientists will determine whether the program has positive effect on well-being, school performance and levels of stress hormones as measured in saliva.

The DeStress for Success Project builds on the Centre’s My Amazing Brain Program and will specifically evaluate grade six students and those entering their first year of high school. The students will participate in ten 40-minute workshop sessions, which will be taught by school nurses or school counselors trained at the Centre for Studies on Human Stress. Three major topics will be introduced including, recognizing stress, dealing with stress and controlling stress. The acronym NUTS, Novelty, Unpredictability, Threat to you and low Sense of Control, is used to define a stressful situation.

“Our ultimate goal is to improve the physical and mental health of individuals by empowering them with scientifically grounded information on the effects of stress on the brain and body,” says Lupien.