The 92nd Congress of ACFAS – Dr Geoffroy

Please join us on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 1:00-4:40 PM, for the symposium hosted by Dr. Marie-Claude Geoffroy at the 92nd Congress of ACFAS.

The 92nd Congress of ACFAS, to be held from May 5 to 9, 2025 in Montreal on the campus of the École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), is the largest multidisciplinary scientific gathering in the French-speaking world. Each year, the event attracts thousands of researchers and offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest scientific advances across a multitude of disciplines. Organized by ÉTS in collaboration with Concordia University, this year’s theme is Research at the heart of technological and social solutions.

Title: Working for the mental health of young people in schools

Summary : The deterioration in young people’s mental health in recent years is cause for concern, and solutions are urgently needed. In 2021, around 15% of Canadian teenagers aged 12 to 17 reported poor or fair mental health, while others reported high levels of psychological distress, just as disabling. These problems not only affect their well-being, but are also strongly linked to difficulties at school and an increased risk of dangerous behaviour and persistent mental disorders in adulthood. Early action is therefore essential.

Since young people spend most of their time at school, it can play a central role in efforts to prevent and promote mental health. Although many interventions have been implemented in schools around the world, they are rarely evaluated to measure their real effects on students. Some are beneficial, while others may exacerbate young people’s distress or have no measurable effect at all. Results often vary according to student characteristics and implementation conditions.

This symposium presents six school-based mental health interventions, including support resources for school staff, all developed within a university research framework. These interventions address a variety of crucial themes, including bullying, emotion regulation, stress management, eco-anxiety, contact with nature and suicide prevention in primary school children. Preliminary results on their effectiveness are mixed.

Location : ETS – Building E, Room E-4025