Kaufmännische Schule: Wirtschaftsschule startet Projekt mit der AOK und den Kitzberg Kliniken
(enlarge)Bad Mergentheim. The Bad Mergentheim Business School is breaking new ground to support its business students not only academically but also emotionally. Through the joint project between AOK Heilbronn-Franken and the Bad Mergentheim Business School, titled “Healthy School—Mental Health from the Start,” the goal is to guide these young people through their school journey over the long term and support them as they face personal challenges.
The health project kicked off at the beginning of the school year with a special orientation day. The event was organized and led by Ms. Arzt, who works as a freelance prevention and health manager at the Kitzberg Clinics Academy in Bad Mergentheim. There, she is helping to establish a regional mental health network that involves various stakeholders from the healthcare sector, schools, and businesses in the region—including the Bad Mergentheim Business School.
Department Head Michael Krank began by welcoming the students and introducing them to the planned project. He expressed special thanks to the AOK, whose support made the initiative possible. Ms. Arzt then took over as facilitator for the orientation day. With her extensive expertise and a variety of engaging methods, she succeeded in involving the students right from the start and encouraging them to reflect personally on their values, strengths, challenges, and goals.
It wasn’t just about getting to know one another. The young people were also encouraged to reflect on their academic and career goals and consider what steps they could take to achieve them. Using a modified quote from the poet Christian Morgenstern, the expert summed up the challenge: “If I don’t know my destination, I won’t find the way.”
First, the students introduced themselves to one another in pairs and discussed their individual interests, needs, and challenges. They then worked together to identify the values that are particularly important to them as a class. This led to the creation of a shared mission statement in which concepts such as respect, helpfulness, loyalty, honesty, tolerance, and forbearance play an important role.
As the session progressed, the focus shifted to the students’ personal goals. In particular, they reflected deeply on why the intermediate school-leaving certificate is important to them. It became clear that while the majority of the class has an academic goal in mind, many were still unsure of how to achieve it in practical terms.
Using targeted exercises and methods, Ms. Arzt therefore guided the students step by step from setting personal goals to identifying concrete courses of action. They examined their own strengths and weaknesses and identified potential obstacles along the way. Among other things, the students cited a lack of German language skills, sleep problems, excessive cell phone use, and personal stress as factors causing them distress.
(enlarge)Using the SMART method and ABC analysis, the students ultimately learned to formulate goals more specifically, set priorities, and regularly review and, if necessary, adjust their plans. The various phases of the project made it clear that mental health also means recognizing one’s own needs and limits, setting realistic goals, and taking personal responsibility for one’s own path.
The results of the exercises were recorded on posters. This provided the students with personal and shared “mental guidelines” that they can use for orientation over the next two years.
The project will continue at the midyear mark. At that time, the students will reflect on the extent to which they were able to put their resolutions and the values they agreed upon into practice in their everyday school life. Together, they will then determine what helps the students continue pursuing their goals, successfully navigate challenges in their daily school life, and identify areas where they need specific support. In this way, mental health will not be addressed as a one-time topic but will be supported on an ongoing basis.
At the end of the orientation day, the class’s overall assessment was positive. It became particularly clear that the students had learned not only a great deal about their classmates, but also about themselves, their goals, and possible ways to achieve them.