Promoting resilience with a systemic approach: the experience of the UPRIGHT project in lower secondary schools in the province of Trento

Abstract

This paper presents objectives and methods applied in the UPRIGHT European project to promote a culture of psychological well-being in lower secondary school communities. The project consists in the co-creation of a training programme on mental resilience, in its delivery to school communities with a systemic intent in 5 European regions and in the validation of its effectiveness through a cluster randomized controlled trial and the use of a mixed method approach. This paper describes, in particular, the main components and skills covered in the UPRIGHT project, the different phases of development and implementation of the programme, and the methodological approach used for its multi-centric and longitudinal validation. Some food for thought derived from the experience of co-creation and training of teachers and families in the first edition is also provided, with particular reference to the pilot testing performed in Trentino.