Mental Wellbeing in Student Populations with Dr. Stephen Popp & Dr. Diego Estrada of The John Cooper School

Wellness and mental health education is as important as any other
part of the school system as it teaches students how to
prioritize their holistic wellbeing by becoming curious and
compassionate about their emotions. Today on Hope Pieced
Together, we are joined by the incredible Head of The John Cooper
School, Dr. Stephen Popp, and the school’s Director of Wellness,
Dr. Diego Estrada, to discuss their systemic and evidence-based
approach to educating student populations on mental wellbeing.
Tuning in, you’ll hear all about our guests’  backgrounds,
what their school’s mission is, why mental health is part of your
overall well-being, and a breakdown of their systemic approach to
educating their community on wellness and wellbeing. We delve
into how they started the mental wellbeing conversations with
their staff and  students before our guests discuss the
importance of evidence-based education and how they navigate the
complexities of society while trying to destigmatize mental
health discussions. We  even talk about the multitude of
projects they offer and skills they are fostering in their
students when it comes to this subject, how parents can support
their children through anxiety in their  academic
environments, and why they want their students to become
‘emotional scientists’ not  ‘emotional judges’. Finally,
they remind us that their mental well-being mission is an
ongoing  process that needs constant evolution and work. You
don’t want to miss this one, so be sure to listen now!
Key Points From This Episode: 


• Introducing today’s guests, Dr. Stephen Popp and Dr. Diego
Estrada.
• Our guests tell us about their school's mission and how they
carry it out. 
• Their systemic approach to educating the community on wellness
and well-being. 
• Why mental health is part of your overall well-being and should
be maintained consistently. 
• How they transitioned from educating their facility and staff
to the students in their school. 
• The importance of evidence-based education when it comes to
emotions. 
• How they navigate the challenges and complexities of the world
while educating students. 
• Teaching students to be proactive and intellectually curious
about their emotions. 
• Why their staff do not act as counselors and how they handle
mental health challenges. 
• Their incredible collaborations and opportunities for their
students on this topic. 
• How they are teaching their students invaluable
skills. 
• What parents can do to help their children with academic
anxiety. 
• The importance of becoming an ‘emotional scientist’ instead of
an ‘emotional judge’.
• Why their mission is an ongoing process.
• The best and worst advice ever, the legacy they want to create,
and one law they’d create.
• Our guests share some inspirational stories of hope that have
driven them in their lives. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 


Dr. Stephen Popp on LinkedIn 


Dr. Diego Estrada on LinkedIn 


The John Cooper School 


Dr. Paulraj Samuel on LinkedIn 


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