[An experience of mental health promotion in an educational institution]

This article describes the work done by an interdisciplinary team belonging to a Mental Health Center in a secondary school situated within its area limits. The socio-political situation had developed opposition among the students towards the established school regulations provoking disturbances in communications and alliances between some of the different school groups. This situation created difficulties for the staff in connection with the specific management of the conflict. The written goals of the educational institution and those of the Mental Health Promotion team of this Mental Health Center were similar as follows: 1. Developing human being's potentialities; 2. Promoting more freedom and better communications. These facts, and the shared goals described above constituted the main reasons and explain why the Mental Health Promotion Team was able to work with the school groups in counseling during 3 1/2 years. It is important to emphasize that one of the main objectives achieved was that of transforming each staff member, such as professors and students into a mental health agent, that is to say someone who through his role is capable of influencing a significant number of people. Additional efforts were made towards turning intergroups communications more fluid breaking alliances and encouraging different groups to participate in school decisions.