Modern approaches in prevention of school violence in Lithuanian schools

Robertas Povilaitis, PhDPresident of Lithuanian Psychological Association

Member of National Committee of Olweus Bullying Prevention program

Stockholm, September 30, 2009

The prevalence of being bullied (HBSC 2005/2006; Zaborskis&Vareikiene, 2008)

Prevalence of bullied children in Prevalence of bullied children in

Lithuania and NorwayLithuania and Norway((Olweus database)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Norway 12,4 13,4 12,9

Lithuania 25,8 31,2 28,8

Girls Boys All

The prevalence of bullying others(HBSC 2005/2006; Zaborskis&Vareikiene, 2008)

Epidemic of bullying

� 100 out of 10.000 ill = 1% = EPIDEMIC

Epidemic of bullying behaviour?(HBSC 2005/2006, boys)

1

30,33

5,03

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Threshold of epidemic Lithuania Sweden

The changes of prevalence of being bullied during 1994-2006 (%)(HBSC 2005/2006)

41,7 42

36,4

28

26,5

38,439,5

32,3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1994 1998 2002 2006

Boys

Girls

The changes of prevalence of bullying others during 1994-2006 (%)(HBSC 2005/2006)

30,3

16,6

40,3 40,3 41,3

27,9 29,1 26,5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1994 1998 2002 2006

Boys

Girls

ChildFamilyCommunitySociety

Prevention of violence

Ecological model

Prevention of violence

Ecological model

Societal level

� Highest rate of experiencing bullying and bullying others in HBSC since 1994

� 2000 – no concept of bullying, no awareness, no research, no prevention programs

� Increasing awareness: NGO initiatives, serious media attention

� Special meeting at the Parliament of Lithuania (January, 2007)

� Special meeting in the President House (April, 2007)

� Prime Minister of Lithuania formed a Task force for preparation of the action plan for prevention of school violence (May, 2007)

� WP4 - CAMH COUNTRY PROFILES/POLICIES. Analysis of contextual factors, resources invested in CAMH, processes and outcomes

� WP5 – PARENTING� WP6 – PREVENTION OF (SELF) DESTRUCTIVE

BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS� WP7 – BEST PRACTICES. BALANCING BETWEEN

PROMOTION/PREVENTION AND CLINICAL SERVICES. ECONOMIC EVALUATION

� Destructive and self-destructive behaviour in schools was considered as one of cornesrtone problems for addresssing child mental health problems in strategic levels.

� Especially in new EU countries, in which indicators of child mental health seems to be worse, and CAMH policies still need clear direction and effective allocation of resources, sustainablepreventive activities in scholls might become the first step inbreaking a vicous circle of violence, helplessness and sliding down to repressive policies

EC Public health project “Child and adolescent

mental health in enlarged EU - development of

effective policies and practices”

Modern Approaches in Prevention of Bullying and Violence in Schools

2007 December 6-7thHotel “Holiday Inn Vilnius”

Conference supported by:

Organizers:

Lietuvos psichologų

sąjunga

Nacionalinis švietimo forumas

Embassy of theKingdom of

the Netherlands

EC Public healthprogramme

International conference

Modern Approaches in Prevention of Bullying and Violence in

Schools

International conference “ ModernApproaches in Prevention of Bullying andViolence in Schools”. Vilnius, December 6 –7th, 2007

Success Story

� Coalition of politicians, professionals and NGO’s

� Evidence from other countries (participants from 14 countries)

� Clear demonstration of political will and commitment from all stakeholders

� Shift in direction of resources� More focus on Human Rights and Rights of

Children. Implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Community level: schools

� National Program for Helping Children and Preventing Child Abuse (2008-2010):

- Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

- “Second Step” violence prevention program

- “Zippy’s Friends” program

� NGO initiatives:- Collaboration with schools. Implementation of

preventive projects (DAPHNE II project)

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

� Contract between Ministry of Education and Science (Lithuania) and Olweus International (Norway)

� Training of 64 instructors (trainers)

� Implementation of the program in 93 schools

� Training material: Olweus book, two manual for schools, videos

� The effectiveness study: survey in all program schools + comparison schools

School level

conditionsClas

sroo

m/

smallgroup

cond

ition

s

The handling of individual

bullying cases

The Olweus program organization

National Lithuanian

organizing group/

Olweus International

Coordinator

Group

leaders

Coordinating committeeSchool

School

Director

Staff members

Study- and

Supervision

Group(s)

Parents

represen-

tatives

StudentsSocial pedagog,

psychologist

Olweus

instructor

� Teaches social and emotional skills to reduce violent behavior and increase social competence� Empathy� Impulse Control and Problem-Solving� Anger management

� Training for Trainers: prepared 17 teachers –program consultants in Lithuania

� Training for teachers: 506 teachers are trained during 2008-2009

� Training for educators (school administrators, specialists)

ZIPPY’S FRIENDS

� Zippy’s Friends is a programme that helps young children – 5-7 year olds - to develop coping and social skills.

� It’s believed that children who learn to cope at such a young age will maintain these skills also during adolescence and adulthood.

� Programme is run in the kindergartens and primary schools.

� Initial and support trainings for trainers (psychologists) and teachers

Family level: Without bullying campaign

+ =

This paper was produced for a meeting organized by Health & Consumers DG and represents the views of its author on thesubject. These views have not been adopted or in any way approved by the Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of the Commission's or Health & Consumers DG's views. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the dataincluded in this paper, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.