Four Swiss organizations have prepared the topic of "Mental health and children's rights" for school lessons to mark International Children's Rights Day. The teaching material is now available free of charge to teachers throughout Switzerland.
The International Children's Rights Day will take place on November 20, 2024. To mark the occasion, the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation, Integras and the terre des hommes schweiz / Terre des Hommes Suisse alliance have published new educational materials entitled "Children's rights: do you know them?" has been published. This year's focus is on the topic of mental health. The teaching material is available to teachers free of charge and in three national languages. It is adapted to the curriculum and is supplemented by inclusive material in simplified language.
Clear need of young people
At the last children's conference in Geneva, children and young people made it clear how urgent the issue of mental health is for them. The new teaching material takes their concerns into account. "It is important for us to include the needs and opinions of young people. They have a right to co-determination - this is also included in the Convention on the Rights of the Child," says Catherine Brunold, specialist for psychosocial support and project manager for tdh éducation at terre des hommes schweiz.
The Federal Commission for Children and Youth Issues describes mental health problems as currently the biggest health problem among young people. According to a Study of 2021, a third of 14 to 19-year-olds in Switzerland and Liechtenstein are affected by mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation.
Bringing children's rights to life
The experience of those responsible for the project shows that children's rights are ideally taught through personal engagement and practical experience. The teaching material therefore invites pupils to engage interactively with children's rights, particularly in relation to mental health. For example, practical exercises are designed to help them deal better with stress and be more empathetic towards their classmates.
The general rights of children are formulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 1989. Their aim is to protect and promote the well-being and development of children and young people, to safeguard their basic needs and to give them a voice. Mental health is closely linked to respect for these rights. Schools also have a role to play here: They should provide an environment that promotes the emotional and social development of pupils*. However, the practical implementation of children's rights often remains a challenge - even in schools.
The aim of the "Children's rights: do you know them?" project is to promote discussion of children's rights and to raise awareness of them. It is carried out in collaboration with éducation21 and is supported by the federal government as part of the Child and Youth Promotion Act. The four-year project phase will be completed in 2024.
Further information: www.children-rights.ch
Professional information: Catherine Brunold, tdh éducation project manager at terre des hommes switzerland, catherine.brunold@terredeshommes.ch, +41 61 335 91 57
Media contact terre des hommes switzerland: Jasmin Schraner jasmin.schraner@terredeshommes.ch, +41 61 335 91 51
Participating organizations
terre des hommes schweiz is a development policy organization that empowers young people in Africa, Latin America and Switzerland. Together, we are committed to social cohesion, global justice, climate justice and a decent life for all. We work with our local partners and in strategic partnerships and alliances to build a strong civil society.
Integras promotes specialist knowledge in working with children, adolescents and young adults in The school offers a high level of ethical and professional quality by demanding and promoting extra-familial care and/or special educational support.
The Pestalozzi Children's Foundation is a Swiss non-profit organization committed to children and young people in Switzerland and in twelve countries worldwide. It supports children and young people in the promotion of specific skills required for peaceful coexistence through education for sustainable development and the opportunity for individual development.
Terre des Hommes Suisse is a non-profit organization that has always been committed to children and solidarity-based development. The aim of Terre des Hommes Suisse is to give children and young people the tools to become agents of change so that they are able to work for respect for their rights and a more sustainable world.
