Dobrodošli_e v SPARK

Spark s spolno občutljivim pristopom omogoča krepitev duševnega zdravja.

Z interaktivnimi izkušnjami, kot sta spletni multiverzum in digitalna soba pobega, otrokom pomagamo razviti odpornost, empatijo in ozaveščenost.

S ponujanjem znanj in aktivnosti za otroke in strokovne delavce_ke osnovnih šol ustvarjamo varna, vključujoča in enaka šolska okolja.

Moč uma

Razumevanje povezave med duševnim zdravjem in spolom. Duševno zdravje je ključnega pomena za otrokov razvoj, pri čemer ima spol pomembno vlogo pri tem, kako otroci doživljajo in izražajo izzive, povezane z duševnim zdravjem. V tem razdelku bomo spoznali, kako spolni normativi vplivajo na duševno zdravje, ter raziskali načine, kako lahko te izzive prepoznamo in jih uspešneje naslavljamo, da bodo otroci bolje razumeli pomen dobrega počutja ter se uspešno razvijali.

Podpora duševnemu zdravju skozi razumevanje spolnih norm

Za zmanjševanje škodljivih stereotipov je ključnega pomena, da spodbujamo tako dečke kot deklice k odprtemu izražanju čustev brez strahu pred obsojanjem. Spodbujanje čustvene pismenosti otrokom pomaga prepoznati in razumeti svoja čustva, kar je pomembno za čustveno regulacijo in boljše duševno zdravje.

3 praktični nasveti za podporo duševnemu zdravju

Za učitelje_ice:

Za starše

Za otroke:

SPARK MASTERING MINDS

Smernice in izobraževalni moduli za (ne)pedagoške delavce in delavke

1.

MASTERCLASSES

2.

Praktični primeri za spolno občutljivo podporo duševnemu zdravju

3.

V LABIRINTU UMA

Odpiranje misli: učenje o duševnem zdravju na zabaven način

Dobrodošli v Labirintu uma, čarobni digitalni učilnici, kjer otroci odkrivate skrivnosti svojih čustev skozi zabavne zgodbe, igre in aktivnosti! S pomočjo mačka Sparka boste spoznali, kako razumeti in izraziti svoja čustva, prepoznati stereotipe o spolu ter okrepiti svojo duševno moč – vse to ob obilici zabave!

6-8 LET

Raziskovanje
čustev

RAZBIJALCI MITOV O ČUSTVIH

Preverjanje
čustev

9-12 LET

Razbijanje spolnih stereotipov: Čustva so za vse

Vpliv spolnih normativov na duševno zdravje

Spolni stereotipi in čustveno izražanje:

Raziskave so pokazale, da se fante pogosto vzgaja v prepričanju, da morajo zatirati čustva, kot sta žalost in strah, saj ta čustva tradicionalno veljajo za čustva šibkosti. Namesto tega se fante spodbuja k izražanju jeze ali navidezne trdnosti, kar lahko vodi v pomanjkljivo čustveno regulacijo. Študija, ki jo je objavilo Ameriško psihološko združenje, je pokazala, da fantje redkeje poiščejo pomoč ob soočanju z duševnimi težavami in se pogosteje zatekajo k nezdravim mehanizmom spoprijemanja s tovrstnimi izzivi, kot je zloraba psihoaktivnih snovi, kar njihove težave le še poslabša.

Dejstva, ki jih je vredno upoštevati:

Dekleta in čustveni pritisk:

Dekleta se pogosto soočajo z družbenimi pričakovanji, da bodo izražala svoja čustva in bila nasploh negovalna, vendar lahko ta pričakovanja po drugi strani vodijo v čustveno izčrpanost in anksioznost. Dekleta se na vsakem koraku srečujejo z družbenimi pritiski, da bi dosegla nerealna merila, kar lahko prispeva k težavam s telesno (samo)podobo, motnjam hranjenja in depresiji. Po podatkih Nacionalnega inštituta za duševno zdravje obstaja pri najstniških dekletih večja verjetnost kot pri njihovih moških vrstnikih, da bodo doživela anksioznost in depresijo.

Dejstva, ki jih je vredno upoštevati:

Spodbujanje pozitivnega izražanja čustev:

Razbijanje spolnih ovir:

Izzivanje tradicionalnih spolnih norm otrokom omogoča, da sprejmejo širši spekter čustvenih izrazov. Dečki se lahko naučijo, da je iskanje podpore znak poguma, deklice pa so razvijajo zaupanje, da lahko izražajo tudi jezo, frustracijo in tekmovalnost.

Dejstva, ki jih je vredno upoštevati:

Opening Address by the President of the Republic of Slovenia at the International Children’s Summit SPARK

In her opening address at the International Children’s Summit SPARK, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Nataša Pirc Musar, described today’s generation of young people as courageous, as they are willing to speak openly about the experiences that both hurt and strengthen them, and to clearly articulate their needs and perspectives. She stressed that the future must be equal for all, and that the ideas and lived experiences of young people are a valuable resource in shaping society. She further underlined that emotional literacy is a “superpower” of the younger generation, empathy is the foundation of meaningful relationships, and vulnerability is not weakness, but an expression of courage and inner strength.

Address by a Member of the European Parliament on the SPARK Project

In her address, Member of the European Parliament Irena Joveva highlighted a fundamental message of the SPARK project: it is during childhood and adolescence that the foundations for an individual’s overall well-being and development are laid. Every emotion matters, and it is therefore essential to speak openly about feelings, as dialogue creates a safe environment in which children can be heard, understood, and respected.

She expressed her pride that SPARK represents a significant investment in mental health and in challenging stereotypes, and emphasised her aspiration for schools to become safe spaces for open and honest dialogue. In her view, it is crucial to begin in childhood and adolescence, as this is when patterns are formed that can evolve into shared societal values. Every child must have access to support, understanding, and safety — a goal to which the SPARK project is fully committed.

TO SEM JAZ – Online Mental Health Support for Young People

To sem jaz (“This Is Me”) is an online platform dedicated to supporting adolescents’ mental health. It offers an anonymous counselling forum, the opportunity to chat with a professional, and expert responses from psychologists and other specialists to young people’s questions. The platform also features a wide range of online content on relationships, falling in love, self-esteem, emotional distress, sexuality, and other topics relevant to growing up, as well as online courses aimed at developing social and emotional skills and strengthening self-confidence.

The programme fosters peer support and encourages the active engagement of young people in raising awareness about mental health through the “True Friend” approach. It also provides free handbooks for young people. In 2025, the programme was recognised by the OECD as one of the good practices in the field of mental health.

CHAVORE – Mental Health of Roma Children

The CHAVORE project (“child” in the Romani language) aims to strengthen the mental health of Roma girls and boys, with particular attention to vulnerable groups. The project provides training for education professionals, supports the development of parental competencies, and raises awareness among the wider public and decision-makers about the importance of Roma children’s mental health. Its objective is to enhance well-being, social inclusion, and equal opportunities for the development of Roma children.