The Listening Experience in a Group of Adolescents with Mood Disorders

At the Istituto Superiore "Grazio Cossali" secondary school in Orzinuovi (Brescia province) for COVID-19 pandemic emergency, and active listening project through individual and group counselling was proposed. Seven sample classes were selected for which a questionnaire was specifically designed, the students (male and female) were between the ages of 14 and 18. From the results of the questionnaire and the clinical observation, a part of the students show mood disorders with depression type symptoms, attention and concentration difficulties, decrease in academic performance, difficulty in managing emotions, irritability, behavioural fidgeting, displays of anxiety. Furthermore, the individual listening desk was set up to which all the students at the school had access. The primary objective of the project was that of improving emotional, relationship and behavioural issues. Several methodologies were used, such as: participant observation, brainstorming, psychoeducation, active listening, communicative feedback, reactivation of resources. From the active listening carried out in group and individually, the emotional awareness triggered an improvement in the ability to manage emotions in the student, reactivating their own personal resources and improving mood.