An increasing number of Danish students are dealing with emotions such as stress, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. The main problem is that many children have low self-esteem, and thus withdraw from social contexts. This leads to isolation, which reinforces the feeling of inadequacy. Parents tend to feel powerless in these situations, and studies indicate that teachers lack the necessary knowledge to help and support the children.

In cooperation with ‘Børns Livskundskab’, Human Practice Foundation has created the programme Inner Strength. Targeting the problem at its core, the course takes place at the schools in their own environment. The programme targets the environment surrounding the students. The teachers are trained in relationship competences and the students in understanding self-insights, their feelings, and behavior.

We have now launched the programme at one school and are expanding to two more reaching almost 1000 students and 40 teachers in Denmark.