Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T03:02:33.237Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Detection of child mental health problems in the school setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2019

Jan M. Nicholson ,
Margaret L. McFarland  and
Brian Oldenburg
Jan M. Nicholson*
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology
Margaret L. McFarland
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology
Brian Oldenburg
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology
*
School of Public Health, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Rd, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Phone: 61-7-3864 3389, Fax: 61-7-3864 3369, Email: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Schools are an important setting for identification of children with mental health Problems, for referral to specialist mental health Professionals, and for preventive interventions. To ensure optimal Provision of mental health interventions, it is necessary understand how school Systems already identify and support such students. Focus groups with 77 teachers, guidance officers, and school principals in southeast Queensland explored how these school personnel perceive their students’ mental health difficulties. The eight groups identified existing child mental health problems and were aware of a number of early signs of mental health problems. Participants expressed concerns that children with internalising problems were not receiving appropriate Services, and they identified several barriers to effective communication with families and within the education sector. There are implications for the development of evidence-based approaches in the primary and secondary prevention of mental health problems in children.

Keywords

childrenmental healthschool
Type
Research Article
Information
The Educational and Developmental Psychologist , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , May 1999 , pp. 66 - 77
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. S. (1983). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist and Revised Child Behavior Profile. Burlington, VT: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont.Google Scholar
Alexander K. L., , & Entwisle D. R., (1996). Schools and children at risk. In A. Booth & J. F. Dunn (Eds.), Family-school links (pp, 67–88), Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Allensworth, D., Lawson, E., Nicholson, L., & Wyche, J. (Eds.). (1997). Schools and health: Our nation's Investment Institute of Medicine, Washington DC, National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Brandenburg, N. A., Friedman, R. M., & Silver, S. E. (1990). The epidemiology of childhood psychiatric disorders: Prevalence l'indings from recenl studies. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adoloscant Psychiatry, 29, 76–83.Google Scholar
Brotherson, M. J. (1994). Interactive focus group Interviewing: A qualitative research method in early Intervention. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 14, 101–118.Google Scholar
Coie, J. D., Walt, N. F., Hawkins, J. D., et al. (1993). Tho science of prevention: A conceptual framework and some diiections for a national research program. American Psychologist, 48, 1013–1022.Google Scholar
Conoley, J. C., & Conoley, C. W. (1991). Collaboration for child adjustment: Issues for school- and clinic-based psychologists. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 59, 821–829.Google Scholar
Pergusson, D. M., Horwood, L. J., & Lynskey, M. T. (1998). Children and adolescents. In P. Ellis & S. Collings (Eds.), Mental health in New Zealand from a public health parspoctivo (pp. 137–164). Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health.Google Scholar
Goldberg, D., & Gask, L. (1992). Primary care and psychiatric epidemiology: The psychiatrist's perspective. In B. Cooper & R. Eastwood (Eds.), Primary health care and psychiatric epidemiology (pp. 44–56). London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Harrison, J., Moller, J., & Bordeaux, S. (1997). Youth suicide and self-injury in Australia. Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.Google Scholar
Horwood, L. J., & Fergusson, D. M. (1998). Psychiatric disorder and treatment seeking in a birth cohort of young adults. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health.Google Scholar
Masten, A. S., & Garmezy, N. (1985), Risk, vulnerability, and protective factors in developmental psychopathology. In B. B. Lahey & A. E. Kazdin (Eds.), Advances in clinical child psychology (Vol. 8, pp. 1–52). New York: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
Mrazek, P. J., & Haggorty, R. J. (Eds.). (1994). Reducing risks for mental disorders. Washington: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Nicholson, J. M., Oldenburg, B., McFarland, M. L., & Dwyer, S. B. (in press). Mental health interventions in the primary school setting: Perceived facilitators, barriers, and needs. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. Google Scholar
Nutbeam, D., Wise, M., Bauman, A., Harris, E., & Leeder, S. (1993). Goals and targets for Australia's health in the year 2000 and heyond. Commonwealth Department of Health, Housing and Community Services: Australian Government Printing Service.Google Scholar
Offord, D. R., Boylo, M. H., Szatmari, P., Rao-Grant, N. I., Links, P. S., Cadman, D. T., Byles, J. A., Crawford, J. W., Blum, H. M., Byrne, C., Thomas, H., & Woodward, C. A. (1987). Ontario Child Health Study: Slx-month prevalence of disorder and rates of Service utilization. Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 832–836.Google Scholar
Sawyer, M. G., Sarris, A., Baghurst, P. A., et al., (1900). The prevalence of emotional and behaviour disordors and pattems of service utilisation in children and adolescents, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 24, 323–330.Google Scholar
Stouthamer-Loebor, M., & Loebor, R. (1989). The use of prediction data in understanding delinquency. In L. A. Bond & B. E. Compas (Eds.), Primary Prävention and promotion in schools (pp. 179–201). Newbury Park: Sage.Google Scholar
Wassef, A., Collins, M. L., Ingham, D., & Mason, G. (1995). In search of effective programs to address students’ emotional and behavloral Problems, Part II: Critlque of school- and community-based programs. Adolescence, 30, 757–777.Google Scholar
Werthamer-Larsson, L., (1994). Methodological issues in school-based Services research, Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 23, 121–132.Google Scholar
Yoshikawa, H. (1994). Prevention as cumulative protection: Effects of early family support and education on chronic delinquency and its risks. Psychological Bulletin, 115, 28–54.Google Scholar
Zubrick, S. R., Silburn, S. R., Garton, A., Burton, P., Dalby, R., Carlton, J., Shepherd, C., & Lawrence, D. (1995). Western Australian child health survey: Developing health and well-being in the nineties, Perth, WA: Australian Bureau of Statistics & Institute for Child Health Research.Google Scholar