Effective Advocacy for School-Based Mental Health Programs

Abstract

Reflecting the theme of this book, school-based mental health programs present an essential avenue for minimizing the barriers and increasing health care access for youth by offering services in a familiar setting where youth spend the majority of their day. Schools in collaboration with communities can play a vital role in identifying and treating children with emerging mental health needs, in addition to offering more intensive, ongoing services for those with chronic disorders. Further, the role of school-based mental health services extends beyond youth with disorders to include prevention for youth who do not exhibit signs of mental illness. For instance, high rates of youth substance abuse, violence, suicide, and other preventable behaviors speak to a need for school-based programs that enhance youth resiliency by decreasing those factors that put youth at risk for mental health problems and increasing the factors that "protect" youth. The Washington, D.C., and Connecticut case studies provide useful examples of effective advocacy for mental health services in public schools. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: chapter)