BEWARE-IMPLEMENT - Greater awareness, education, and resilience in schools: Extension of the BEWARE project
The BEWARE project aims to strengthen the mental health literacy of students in grades 5 to 10 – including knowledge, attitudes, and practical skills related to mental health, seeking help, and self-management. The goal is to improve students' stress management and resilience and promote openness to further prevention services.
The program was developed at the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research as part of a four-year project (2021-2025) under the direction of Prof. Dr. Michèle Wessa in close collaboration with teachers, students, and school social workers from two model schools and in cooperation with the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Education. Its effectiveness was tested in a long-term study at five schools in Rhineland-Palatinate. Funding was provided by public health insurance companies as part of the GKV Alliance for Health. Initial results show that students have a strong interest in discussing mental health. At the same time, many teachers report that this topic was hardly covered in their training and that they feel uncertain about recognizing psychological stress in their students.
The project will be able to address this need thanks to the follow-up funding approved by the GKV Alliance for Health for 2026 and 2027. The project team led by Prof. Dr. Michèle Wessa aims to IMPLEMENT BEWARE in schools on a long-term and sustainable basis (BEWARE-IMPLEMENT) – including through hybrid teacher training, digital provision of materials, and the use of existing networks and control structures. The measures are flexible, scalable, and resource-efficient, and make a valuable contribution to school-based prevention programs in Rhineland-Palatinate. In line with the principle of “theoria cum praxi,” the LIR contributes to the implementation of the Leibniz Association's mission statement. This mission statement stands for research that translates theory into practice and delivers concrete benefits for society.