• Zenstudies: Making a Healthy Transition to Higher Education
    Aug 30, 2021 | Diane Marcotte, Marie-Laurence Paré, Cynthia Lamarre and Carole Viel

    Zenstudies is a mental health prevention program that provides educational and support resources for post-secondary mental health counsellors and instructors to facilitate the shift from high school to college or university. Grade 12 educators will also find useful materials to help guide their students in preparing for post-secondary education. The aim is to prevent student dropouts by alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression that can hinder academic achievement.

    Created by Dianne Marcotte, Marie -Laurence Paré, Cynthia Lamarre and Carole Viel, Zenstudies consists of three modules:

    Zenstudies 1: Universal Prevention Program

    Module 1 is a universal prevention program created to be delivered by an instructor, that assists students in building mental health awareness and understanding the transition to higher education. It provides them with preventive strategies to ensure a smooth adjustment. This resource includes eight classroom activities, totaling 60 to 75 minutes. It comes with a full-color facilitator’s manual and a participant workbook with printable worksheets for convenient distribution and classroom use.

    Zenstudies 2: Targeted-Selective Prevention Program

    Module 2 is a targeted-selective prevention initiative, meaning participants will have opted to participate in this training. It is split into two sessions: one focused on managing anxiety and the other on preventing depression, with each session lasting 75 to 90 minutes. These workshops are intended to be delivered through student services by instructors or professionals trained in mental health support.

    Zenstudies 3: Targeted-Indicated Prevention Program

    Module 3 is a targeted-indicated prevention designed for mental health practitioners who wish to implement the program at their school. It includes 10 small-group sessions (for 6 to 10 students) specifically aimed at first-year students displaying symptoms of anxiety or depression, to be conducted by two mental health experts.

    Learn more here