Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Bridging the Gap: Comparing School Personnel and Student Perspectives on the Mental Health Needs of Students

Danielle S. Taubman, Lizelle Salazar, Stephanie Salazar, Sagar V. Parikh

Abstract


Background, aims and objectives: Teachers and other school personnel are often the first point of contact for a student who is experiencing mental distress. They are therefore particularly well-placed to provide ongoing social and emotional support to students. Nevertheless, most school personnel are not trained to recognize and respond to mental health problems.

Methods: In order to better understand the needs and challenges around student mental health and improve school mental health interventions and resources, we used quantitative and qualitative survey items to compare the perspectives of both school staff and students. To obtain personnel feedback, a 14-item online survey was distributed at the primary and secondary school levels. To obtain student feedback, 7 survey items were added to an existing school-based program survey that was distributed at participating high schools.

Results: Out of 32 schools surveyed, 254 personnel responded, including 60 high school personnel. In addition, 756 students responded from 10 high schools. Though there is agreement between personnel and students on the need to address student mental health issues, there is an apparent disconnect between reports on what is being done and what needs to go into supporting student mental health.

Conclusion: Along with teachers and other school personnel, students should be part of the needs assessment and priority setting processes around school mental health. Strategies to improve student mental health programs and practices are addressed.

Keywords


Child & adolescent health, depression, mental health information, mental health literacy, mental health training, person-centered healthcare, protective factors, school-based intervention, school health, school personnel, student mental health, suicidal i

Full Text:

PDF

References


Perou, R., Bitsko, R.H., Blumberg, S.J., Pastor, P., Ghandour, R.M., Gfroerer, J.C. et al. (2013). Mental health surveillance among children - United States, 2005-2011. MMWR Supplements 62 (2) 1-35.

Avenevoli, S., Swendsen, J., He, J.P., Burstein, M. & Merikangas, K.R. (2015). Major Depression in the National Comorbidity Survey - Adolescent Supplement: Prevalence, Correlates, and Treatment. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry 54 (1) 37-44.e2.

Mojtabai, R., Olfson, M. & Han, B. (2016). National Trends in the Prevalence and Treatment of Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults. Pediatrics 138 (6) e20161878.

Weinberger, A.H., Gbedemah, M., Martinez, A.M., Nash, D., Galea, S. & Goodwin, R.D. (2018). Trends in depression prevalence in the USA from 2005 to 2015: widening disparities in vulnerable groups. Psychological Medicine 48 (8) 1308-1315.

Thapar, A., Collishaw, S., Pine, D.S. & Thapar, A.K. (2012). Depression in adolescence. Lancet 379 (9820) 1056-1067.

WHO. Adolescents and mental health. Available from: http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/adolescence/mental_health/en/.

King, C.A., Arango, A. & Ewell Foster, C. (2018). Emerging trends in adolescent suicide prevention research. Current Opinion in Psychology 22, 89-94.

Wester, K., Trepal, H. & King, K. (2018). Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Increased Prevalence in Engagement. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 48 (6) 690-698.

Olfson, M., Druss, B.G. & Marcus, S.C. (2015). Trends in Mental Health Care among Children and Adolescents. New England Journal of Medicine 373 (11) 1079.

Graham, A., Phelps, R., Maddison, C. & Fitzgerald, R. (2011). Supporting children’s mental health in schools: teacher views. Teachers and Teaching Theory and Practice 17 (4) 479-496.

Mazzer, K.R. & Rickwood, D.J. (2015). Teachers’ role breadth and perceived efficacy in supporting student mental health. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion 8 (1) 29-41.

Nyutu, P.N. & Bertel, J.M. (2012). Perceptions of teacher preparation and attitudes regarding students’ mental health in Kenya. Advances in School Mental Health Promotion 5 (1) 63-74.

Miller, L., Musci, R.J., D’Agati, D., Alfes, C., Beaudry, M.B., Swartz, K.L. & Wilcox, H. (2018). Teacher Mental Health Literacy is Associated with Student Literacy in the Adolescent Depression Awareness Program. School Mental Health 11 (12) 357-363.

Parikh, S.V., Taubman, D.S., Antoun, C., Cranford, J., Foster, C.E., Grambeau, M., Hunter, J., Jester, J., Konz, K., Meyer, T., Salazar, S. & Greden, J.F. (2018). The Michigan Peer-to-Peer Depression Awareness Program: School-based prevention to address depression among teens. Psychiatric Services 69 (4) 487-491.

Dittmar, L.F. (2014). Teachers' perceptions and efficacy for addressing the mental health needs of students. (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).

Graham, A., Phelps, R., Maddison, C. & Fitzgerald, R. (2011). Supporting children’s mental health in schools: Teacher views. Teachers and Teaching 17 (4) 479-496.

Loades, M.E. & Mastroyannopoulou, K. (2010). Teachers’ Recognition of Children’s Mental Health Problems. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 15 (3) 150-156.

Reinke, W.M., Stormont, M., Herman, K.C., Puri, R. & Goel, N. (2011). Supporting children’s mental health in schools: Teacher perceptions of needs, roles, and barriers. School Psychology Quarterly 26 (1) 1-13.

Soares, A.G.S., Estanislau, G., Brietzke, E., Lefèvre, F. & Bressan, R.A. (2014). Public school teachers’ perceptions about mental health. Revista de Saúde Pública 48 (6) 940-948.

Walter, H.J., Gouze, K. & Lim, K.G. (2006). Teachers’ Beliefs About Mental Health Needs in Inner City Elementary Schools. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry 45 (1) 61-68.

Nguyen, D.T., Dedding, C., Pham, T.T. & Bunders, J. (2013). Perspectives of pupils, parents, and teachers on mental health problems among Vietnamese secondary school pupils. BMC Public Health 13, 1046.

Snow, J. & Mann, M. (2013). Qualtrics survey software: handbook for research professionals. Qualtrics Labs, Inc.

Tanney, B.L., Ramsay, R.F., Lang, W.A. & Kinzel, T.A. (2006). Safetalk: development of brief skills training in suicide intervention. Psychiatria Danubina 18 (Supplement 1) 94-95.

Lang, W.A., Ramsay, R.F., Tanney, B.L., Kinzel, T., Turley, B. & Tierney, R.J. (2013). ASIST trainer manual (11th edn.). Calgary, Alberta, Canada: LivingWorks Education.

Friese, S. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis with ATLAS.ti. p.364. London: SAGE.

Spivak, H., Sege, R., Flanigan, E. & Licenziato, V. (2006). American Academy of Pediatrics. Connected Kids: Safe, Strong, Secure Clinical Guide [Internet]. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics, Available from: https://patiented.solutions.aap.org/DocumentLibrary/Connected%20Kids%20Clinical%20Guide.pdf




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5750/ejpch.v7i4.1785

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.