PEA Model: a Proposed Curriculum for Camp Directors Supporting Emerging Adults’ Mental Health at Work
Authors:
Haley Pogachefsky, OT/s; Meredith Grinnell, OTD, OT, OTR; Peter Kassen
Abstract:
Adults in Generation Z (Gen Z) report higher rates of anxiety than previous generations, especially in work settings. Chronic activation of the stress response system impairs learning and higher order thinking skills necessary for early job experiences. Occupational therapy’s (OT) PEO model offers an opportunity for supervisors to approach supporting their emerging adult staff with curiosity. Hidden Valley Camp (HVC) is a private, co-ed residential summer camp in Maine. Staff are typically 18-24 years old, from the US and abroad. In recent years, HVC directors report higher rates of staff struggle to meet the demands of the job. This project aims to understand the professional needs of Gen Z staff. This project then proposes a curriculum to help directors and identify and implement relevant supports using a variation of the OT model.
Key Words:
PEA, Gen Z, Camp