School based prevention of mental disorders in children and adolescents

Abstract

Mental stress among pupils has increased significantly in recent years as a result of multiple social crises, but also due to increased social sensitivity. Restrictions in mental health have a significant impact on the educational participation of affected children and adolescents in particular. Since school and teaching-related factors have an important influence on the mental health of pupils, the prevention of mental stress and disorders in schools is a particularly important task. Prevention should be understood as an approach that uses primary prevention measures (e. g. awareness campaigns) to strengthen the resilience of all students against mental illness, but also provides targeted and qualified secondary and tertiary prevention measures (e. g. focused group programs) to children and adolescents who are under stress. In addition to behavioral prevention measures to strengthen individual health literacy, the prevention of mental stress must also pursue a relationship prevention approach and focus on the systemic structures and processes of schools and teaching.