Creating Value In Schools
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The PERMA model is a positive psychology model, developed by Martin Seligman. It’s based on five core elements of wellbeing:
In this short audio clip Nicola Harvey, education and mental health consultant, explains the different elements of the PERMA framework. Listen to the clip or read the transcript below.
I love things like yoga, mindfulness, the whole shebang. I love all of that, but it doesn't work for everyone.
Booking a wellbeing day where staff get to choose a wellbeing activity is not going to solve systemic issues when it comes to mental health and wellbeing, particularly for those individuals with protected characteristics. So it’s really key that we are looking at it from a whole school approach.
PERMA is a positive psychology model, developed by Martin Seligman. PERMA stands for positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment.
It’s an evidence-based model which you can use with both children and adults.
So, positive emotion. And I often take out the positive because all emotions are valid. Obviously, we want people to feel joyful and be their best selves, but we have to acknowledge and validate that some people are not in a great place. Some people are experiencing burnout.
So the P stands for positive emotions. Allowing people to express themselves in a way that feels right for them and regulate their emotions, be it through zones of regulations for children and young people or various other means, but having safe spaces to express our emotions.
Engagement. I encourage staff and schools to find things where people can have a sense of engagement, have a sense of flow, being lost in the moment. Doing an activity that means something to them.
It could be that they have a wellbeing group, or they have a dance club or something, but something that is engaging and takes them away from that mindset of work, work, work.
Whether it's creativity, art, but something that's not work related, but quite engaging.
Our relationships are key; we are human beings. We are connected to other individuals in every sense. We are not here to live alone. And although it's nice to have that sense of ‘me’ time, it's good to connect and communicate with others that are on the same level and can be compassionate and caring.
So it’s really important that we are seeking out relationships that are healthy, supportive and can work both ways. It might be in the form of a mentor, it might be a coach, it might be a peer, but it's really important to have that sense of community.
M for meaning. So finding a purpose. Finding something, and this might be out of work, this might be in work, but also re-evaluating. Why did you want to become a teacher in the first place? What was it that brought you into education? Because that is your purpose, that's your meaning.
And if you're going, ‘well, I don't know’, unpack that and dig a bit deeper. Because if your heart's not in it, that will impact your mental health and emotional wellbeing and also the children and the community that you are serving.
And then last but not least, accomplishment is the A in PERMA. An accomplishment. We often as teachers celebrate children's successes. I know when I was a teacher, we'd have celebrations, assembly, we'd have star of the week, but what about adopting that for staff as well? It’s really important that we are making sure that staff feel seen and heard and are celebrated for a good piece of work.
And also celebrate making mistakes. Having that growth mindset. ‘I messed up, but this is what I did instead.’ You know, those sorts of things are incredible.
So, that's the PERMA model.
| Nicola Harvey is an education and mental health consultant, trainer, author and podcaster. Read or listen to our full conversation: Avoiding and addressing staff burnout |
