The document discusses a wellbeing program called "Check In" implemented at St. Peters College boarding school in Adelaide, Australia. The program involves daily wellbeing surveys of boarding students to monitor their mental health and outlook. Students respond on a scale to 5 statements about optimism, sleep, concentration, peer relationships, and happiness. Responses are anonymous and reviewed by staff to identify any patterns or changes in a student's wellbeing. The program aims to start conversations with students and provide an early indication of any issues, though it cannot replace supervision or be used punitively against students.

1. Check In
Wellbeing Program
David Pyman
St. Peters College, Adelaide

2. My Background

3. Whyalla, South Australia

4. St. Peter’s College

5. School & Allen Boarding

6. ∗ 90 boys from Yr 7 – 12
∗ Boys split into Mentor Groups of approximately 15
boys
∗ Yr 7&8 group
∗ 5 Yr 9-12 Mentor Groups. Each one supervised by a
teaching member of the boarding house
School & Allen Boarding House

7. ∗ From Pastoral Care to Wellbeing
∗ Why the change?
Wellbeing

8. ∗ 3 million Australians are currently living with
depression or anxiety
∗ 45% of Australians will experience a mental illness
in their lifetime
∗ 65% of people with mental illness do not access
any treatment
∗ 1 in 5 Australians between the age of 15-85
experience a mental illness in any given year
Wellbeing

9. Wellbeing

10. Wellbeing
World Health
Organisation
estimates that
depression will be the
#1 health concern
across the World by
2030

11. ∗ 6 Australians die from suicide per day.
∗ 60,000 attempt suicide per year. The majority are
female.
∗ Suicide is the #1 cause of death in people aged
15-24
∗ The vast majority of suicide deaths are male – 75%
∗ Other major groups;
Wellbeing
Indigenous Rural & Remote
L. G. B. T
Children

12. ∗ Even among young people with the most severe
mental health problems, only about 50% receive
professional help
∗ The ‘Kevin Factor’
Talking to Teenagers

13. ∗ A method of ‘Checking in’ daily on the mental
health of the students.
∗ Monitoring for changes in outlook and patterns of
responses
∗ Students given 5 statements to which they respond
Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Agree or Strongly
Agree
Check In program

14. ∗ I feel optimistic about the day ahead
∗ I slept well last night
∗ I feel that I am able to concentrate and focus
when in class
∗ I have a positive and rewarding relationship with
my peers
∗ I feel happy and comfortable in the boarding house
The Statements

15. What it looks like

16. ∗ Results can be analysed at an individual level or as
a group
The Results

17. SurveyMonkey Options Page

18. The Results

19. Results - Patterns

20. Results - Patterns

21. Individual Analysis
Sleep Results
SleepResponse
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3
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22. Group Results

23. Group Results

24. Group Results

25. Group Results

26. Group Results

27. Comparative Results

28. Comparative Results

29. Whole House Results

30. Whole House Results

31. ∗ Do the students give rote answers?
∗ Are we asking the right questions?
∗ Who can see the data?
∗ What is the data used for?
∗ Scaled responses? Can we compare?
∗ Forced participation?
∗ Permissions?
The Questions

32. ∗ Do the students give rote answers?
∗ Daily responses may increase likelihood of rote
answers. However, across a pattern of responses,
changes to the rote answers are a strong indicator
of change of feeling.
The Answers

33. ∗ Are we asking the right questions?
∗ The 5 statements used were overseen by our
school Psychiatrist and are based on evidence as
seen in Positive Psychology publications
The Answers

34. ∗ Who can see the data?
∗ Our responses are available to be viewed by Head
of Boarding and the Teaching staff only. Boys are
advised of this in advance.
The Answers

35. ∗ What is the data used for?
∗ The student responses are used as a guide only. It
is a conversation starter and does not replace
normal staff supervision of wellbeing.
∗ The data is not used to make judgments – i.e.
House Leaders, awards etc…
The Answers

36. ∗ Scaled Responses? Can we compare?
∗ The responses provided are not quantitative nor
standardised. We cannot reliably say what one
students response indicates about their wellbeing.
It is a guide only.
∗ Likewise we cannot compare responses between
students. One students Strongly Disagree may be
the same as another students Disagree. Knowing
your students is critical.
The Answers

37. ∗ Forced Participation?
∗ All responses have been voluntary.
∗ Pyman mentor group responded at a rate above
95% over 12 months.
∗ Wider boarding house has been approximately 55%.
The Answers

38. ∗ Permissions?
∗ Collection of data of this kind requires clear
permissions. Must ensure permission from School
and parents.
The Answers

39. ∗ What if?
∗ Worse case scenario.
∗ Legal issues
∗ Evidence of action
The Big Issue

40. ∗ dpyman@stpeters.sa.edu.au
∗ LinkedIn – David Pyman
Questions