The Impact of the Positivity Project on Mental Health

NYS has recently turned their focus on Mental Health Standards in education. Mental health has become an increasing important problem that is being seen in schools across the country. More and more students are struggling to live a happy and healthy live during school hours. Whether it be bullying, home life, or just not being educated, both educators and students are in dire need of a program that teaches and enhances our education system in the benefits of a strong mental health program. Below is one of the videos associated with the project.

Potsdam Central School District is in our 2nd year of implementing the Positivity Project, or P2. P2 is a non profit organizing founded by 2 West Point graduates that focuses on developing and enhancing stronger relationships through the use of positive psychology's 24 character strengths. The program's research is based of the studies of Dr. Chris Peterson, who is considered the founding father of positive psychology. He summed up positive psychology by saying "Other people matter, period." He drove home the point that in order to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life, it came down to the impact you have on others. It was not about money, fame, or fortune, but about the relationships you created and how you treated and nourished those people who care for you.

Since Potsdam has adapted the program, we have been continuously teaching our kids about mental health, using 24 character traits provided by P2. These character traits consist of things like Love, Kindness, Bravery, Perspective, and Humor. The students are taught each of these strengths throughout the school year, and what each of them mean, as well as how to find these traits in themselves and in others. They are taught about what strengths are strong for them, and which ones are weak that they need to work on. By creating the constant vocabulary words and defining them as a whole school, you create common vocabulary that all of the students can related to.

Our students have become much more aware of how their actions and words affect others. Not only has it created a safer environment for our students in school, it has also help create a positive school culture between our buildings and within our staff. P2 is something that started small in Central NY, but is now spreading all across the country to district. And with how much educational systems are in need of a Mental Health program, they should look no further than P2 to solve this issue!