Citation

Fazel M, Kohrt BA. Lancet Psychiatry 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Department of Global Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30440-7

PMID

31734107

Abstract

Exciting changes are taking place in schools to reinforce the important inter-relationship of education and mental health. Improving child and adolescent mental health will improve the individual's life trajectory and reap untold benefits to the socioeconomic fabric of society. Mental health services are shifting away from traditional models of health care and into locations such as schools, to improve access to care and increase the availability and diversity of non-specialist mental health workers. Finally, the conceptualisation of mental health is expanding from the focus on clinically defined disorders to a broader dimensional approach to mental health,
approaches that are well suited the school environment.

Mental health interventions can be perceived as those that promote mental health (such as improving self-esteem), those that prevent mental illness developing (especially in children with known risk factors), and those that treat diagnosed illnesses. The school environment provides opportunities to promote resilience (eg, enhancing teacher support and positive peer networks) and reduce exposure to risk factors (eg, bullying and academic stressors). However, it can be more difficult to define the actual scope of an intervention than in traditional settings ...

Language: en