The Samsung Welfare Foundation is expanding its 'Mental Strength' training program to prevent mental health issues such as depression and anxiety among youth in schools. Instead of creating a separate curriculum, the program will be integrated into daily school routines, utilizing short, repetitive sessions during morning assemblies to enhance practical application.
On August 11-12, the foundation conducted training for approximately 700 middle and high school teachers and administrators at Yonsei University's Baekjeong Memorial Hall in Seoul, announcing the initiative on August 13.
The program was jointly developed by the Samsung Welfare Foundation and a research team led by Professor Kim Joo-hwan of Yonsei University. It focuses on enhancing non-cognitive skills such as self-regulation, interpersonal skills, and self-motivation through repetitive training.
Schools will implement the program through a 'Daily Program' lasting about five minutes during morning assemblies and a 'Focused Program' utilizing class time each month. Techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, body awareness, and gratitude training will be included. The design allows teachers to continuously apply the program without significantly altering the existing curriculum.
Last year, the Samsung Welfare Foundation piloted the program with 660 students from five middle and high schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province over 12 weeks. The results showed improvements in indicators such as task persistence, self-affirmation, and relationships, while levels of depression and anxiety decreased. Notably, students with high participation rates also demonstrated improved academic performance.
There is a growing movement to prevent youth mental health issues at the school level rather than relying solely on post-treatment. According to the Ministry of Education and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's '2025 Youth Health Behavior Survey,' about 26% of middle and high school students reported experiencing significant depressive symptoms that disrupted their daily lives for more than two weeks in the past year.
The Ministry of Education is also expanding 'social-emotional education' in all schools this year to enhance students' emotional and relational management and mental health capabilities, increasing the emphasis on school-based preventive education.
During the training, participants received 15 hours of instruction on the concept of mental strength, the rationale for training, and methods for school application. Following theoretical education, practical sessions included respect and gratitude training, meditation guidance, and how to use a mental growth journal, enabling teachers to apply these techniques in their classrooms.
The Samsung Welfare Foundation plans to officially roll out the program to middle and high schools nationwide starting in September. Additional training for participating teachers and supervision from the research team will be provided to ensure the program is effectively integrated into school settings rather than being a one-time initiative.
Professor Kim Joo-hwan stated, "Mental strength is not an innate trait but a capability that can grow through appropriate training and repeated experiences. Consistently developing mental strength during adolescence can lay the foundation for improved emotional regulation and resilience."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.