We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The Implementation of Mental Health Policies and Practices in Schools: An Examination of School and State Factors.
- Authors
Guerra, Laura A.; Rajan, Sonali; Roberts, Katherine J.
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: Poor mental health outcomes persist among adolescent youth. Secondary schools play a critical role in fostering positive mental health by implementing policies and practices grounded in evidence. The factors associated with implementation, however, are unclear. This study examines which school‐ and state‐level factors are associated with improved implementation of mental health policies and practices at secondary schools across the United States. METHODS: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data stemming from 3 datasets (School Health Policies and Practices, School Health Profiles, and Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System) surveys were integrated and analyzed. RESULTS: Health educator certification, school use of data during school improvement planning, presence of a health/safety coordinator, presence of a health council and state‐provided health educator professional development in mental health and suicide prevention were each significantly positively associated with schools' implementation of mental health policies and practices. CONCLUSIONS: To promote improved implementation of mental health policies and practices in schools and provide better support for youth mental health outcomes, the use of certified health educators and health‐related supports should be considered. State health and education agencies should undertake evaluations of its mental health practices to ensure the assistance they offer to schools is evidence based.
- Subjects
UNITED States; MENTAL illness prevention; SUICIDE prevention; HEALTH policy; CENTERS for Disease Control &; Prevention (U.S.); STATISTICAL correlation; HEALTH education; MENTAL health services; PROFESSIONAL employee training; REGRESSION analysis; SCHOOL health services; SCHOOLS; STATE governments; STATISTICS; CERTIFICATION; SECONDARY analysis; HEALTH education teachers; HUMAN services programs; DATA analysis software; STATISTICAL models; DESCRIPTIVE statistics
- Publication
Journal of School Health, 2019, Vol 89, Issue 4, p328
- ISSN
0022-4391
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/josh.12738