What the hell psychics?

A project to promote community and equality has started in Vuoksenniska and Koske school centers this fall. At the Mansikkala school center, the project will start at the beginning of January. The goal of the project is the psychological well-being of children and young people, providing early support and talking about problems and increasing understanding. Thanks to the project, every school center has received a psychiatric nurse who works among children.

The work is preventive and is mainly done in classes. Individual visits are made as needed. For preschool children, the work is done together with special education teachers. At work, transparency and openness towards homes is important. The main role is always the child and his well-being.  

Children's voice in schools

- We are alongside passers-by in everyday life, the children's voice and the link between home and school, that safe adult for the child. We also try to support teachers in class, says Vuoksenniska's psychologist Eevi Kukkurainen from his work.

- Together with the teachers, the special education teacher and, if necessary, other members of the student welfare team and parents, we jointly consider ways to make it easier for the child to go to school, continues the person who works at Koske School Center Heidi Inkinen.

- At first, we were expected to put out a lot of different "fires", but very quickly the activities have progressed to work together for the benefit of the child, Kukkurainen continues.

If necessary, the psychologists can contact with the consent of the parents the entities that care for Eksote.

In addition to class work, different groups with curators and special teachers are held at the schools. During the fall, Vuoksenniska has had, among other things, a Maltti group for energetic young boys and at Koske school, the Story of the Dark Quarry - emotional skills groups for students in grades 2-3. Children participate in groups with the consent of their parents.

The focus of the activity is on preschoolers and 1st to 2nd graders, but nothing prevents older schoolchildren from contacting psychologists as well.  

The children have taken the psykers as their own.

- When I came to the escartes' Christmas party, I had to give almost all the children a slap, says Kukkurainen.

- The salt and sugar of this job are the children. We are being shouted at in the corridors, me here and Eevi in ​​Niska, continues Inkinen.

- I have been in Vuoksenniska since the beginning of October and in my opinion I am already one of the community members who will be asked for advice, continues Kukkurainen.

- This is very interesting and rewarding work, both say.

Idea mother is the head of educational services Minna Rovio, who, together with his colleague from Lappeenranta, thought about what to do to promote well-being in schools. The matter was surveyed and it was noticed that schools need multi-professional skills.

The continuation will be revealed during the spring

There are now psychic activities in South Karelia in Imatra and Lappeenranta. The activity comprehensively supports the work done in the school centers.

The feedback received so far has already been positive and the project has also been taken into consideration at the provincial level. During the spring, an impact assessment of the project will be carried out with a view to continuation. It is hoped that the activity can be continued and spread to other parts of the province.

The project's employees are well networked both locally and with psychologists from Lappeenranta. Experiences are exchanged both ways.

- Eksote must be thanked for this activity. Psychiatrists are on Eksote's payroll, but we have been able to define their job description independently, thanks the head of educational services, Minna Rovio.

Mansikkala School Center's own psychologist has started her work at the turn of the year and is looking forward to getting in touch.

More information: head of educational services Minna Rovio, p. go. rovioimatra.fi (minna[dot]rovio[at]imatra[dot]fi).