The social teacher

Never before has there been more focus on young people's mental health. Young people are encouraged to be open about what they are struggling with, in order not to have to deal with adversity or a difficult everyday life alone. Many people talk to friends or family, but it is not always possible to solve the problem completely on your own. Sometimes you need a little help.

Then comes social teacher Kristian Holte.

With the door ajar

What I hear most often is "Do you have time for a little chat?" - says social worker Kristian Holte. Many of the students at Lundheim Folkehøgskole visit him during the day, to talk about nice, sad, hurtful or difficult things. The door is always open, and he always has time for a chat. Some have regular conversations once a week, while others are more sporadic, but what they all have in common is that they need someone who can listen or give advice.Kristian praises today's young people, because they are much better at asking for help than the generation before them. They get straight to the point, says Kristian, and openly say that they are struggling or have problems.

I am very happy that Lundheim folk high school has such a strong focus on mental health among our students, and that this is something we prioritize.

-Kristian Holte, social teacher< /p>

Social teacher

A social worker is involved in a lot during a day. In the main, Kristian works to create a good environment among the students, and has a strong focus on helping those who need it. With a master's degree in special pedagogy and in-depth courses in courage and mastery for better mental health at the folk high school, he is well equipped to deal with most problems.

Kristian has worked for 13 years at Lundheim Folkehøgskole, which means he has seen and heard most things. I tend to emphasize that I am not a psychologist, but that I have good experience in guiding or unraveling conflict and crazy thought patterns, he says. If the pupils feel they want more help, Kristian takes them on the road further, either to a psychologist or the school doctor.

My goal is to both see and help everyone who comes through my door.

- Kristial Holte, social teacher

Focusing on mental health

At the risk of mentioning it too many times - Corona has made today's young people even more vulnerable to mental disorders than before. Even before the Corona, as many as 29% of girls and 11% of boys struggled with mental health problems, and as many as 40% of upper secondary students feel that school and everyday life are a struggle. (Bakken, 2018).

Not sure what you want for autumn?

With Kristian, you can talk about big or small things, and get help to get back on the right track. Dare to talk about mental health and ask for help is important, and this is something that is emphasized at Lundheim Folkehøgskole. One of the measures the school has initiated is to bring in psychologists or speakers from outside to talk about mental health. Former students received, among other things, a seminar with Maria Østhassel, who is behind < span style="background-color: #ffffff;">Psych You.

I'm here for both the highs and the lows, and there are many who come by to tell about something they have mastered or achieved. It's really nice!

- Kristian Holte, social teacher

Big and small

Social teacher at Lundheim Folkehøgskole is to be a low-threshold offer that is open to everyone. Kristian says that he is often contacted at the start of the school year, where he and the student often set up a series of conversations throughout the year. Others come in more casually, and there is talk both about things that have happened before or during the folk high school year. Kristian points out that the student often works out the solution himself, but that it cannot always be as easy to find on his own. It's an incredibly great feeling when a student manages to work through the problem and unravel it on their own, then I feel incredibly proud, he smiles.