From Surviving to Thriving: A Trauma-Informed Intervention for Adolescents and Educators in Rural Montana

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 10:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: A Holistic Approach to Healing: Mindfulness and Trauma-Informed Education (Table 6)

Abstract

Due to the nation's ongoing mental health crisis, the purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a novel, school-based mental health intervention for high school students. This project's main aim was to determine which intervention modality was more effective with students across two school districts with varying degrees of rurality. A secondary aim of this study was to determine efficacy of a remotely-delivered, concurrent intervention for educators across both school districts. This study took place in rural southwestern Montana. Utilizing 6-week, trauma-informed yoga intervention, comparisons of mental and physical health outcomes were examined using cohort data. Mental health outcomes were overwhelmingly positive for all groups. Additionally, educators reported improvements in career satisfaction and burnout levels.

Authors

• Lauren Davis, Montana State University

• Brandon Scott, Montana State University

• Greta Linse, Montana State University

• Rebecca Russell Buchanan, Emory & Henry College