Depression, Anxiety and Stress Management

At CGS the school psychology department draws and implements the services towards the school community – children/ teachers/families with a systemic point of view. Our services expand in two basic axes: Promoting mental health, by implementing Primary Prevention Programs in classrooms, according to the developmental needs of each age group. At Nursery we work on diversity, at First Grade on Team building, at Second, on Feelings, at Third, on Self-image, at Fourth, on Conflict, at Fifth, on Bulling and at Sixth, on sex education. With adolescents we work on safer – internet, professional orientation and exam anxiety. The second’s axe target is to identify any psychological mood disorder in our student population and treat it properly. Children experience separation anxiety, peer pressure, performance anxiety, divorce, grief and chronic illness. We follow a structure which includes observation, psychological assessment, therapeutic sessions and counseling with parents. Based on family’s narratives, change occurs. A differentiated procedure of thinking occurs, communication patterns change, personal attitudes change, and a better feeling is stated. We present the following case study: John is a 6-year-old boy.

His teacher reports a deep sad feeling. His mother reports death anxiety. John’s sister, Anna, is diagnosed with cancer. She had a surgery recently. She is under chemotherapy and cannot attend school. Our department drew the classroom intervention plan such as explanation of illness through metaphor-sometimes beautiful gardens needs medicine to grow stronger; communication with Anna using technology; communication with the hospital’s psychologists and preparing party on her birthday. Psychological assessment of John involved psychoeducational support; counseling with parents; referral to the Grief Organization “Merimna”. The above intervention had following impact: 1. according to family’s narrations, John is feeling better, attending the appointments with the school psychologist. His drawings are colorful. 2. Anna’s parents feel comfortable at the sessions in “Merimna”. Anna will soon attend school.