ABriefReviewonEffectivenessofSchool-basedmentalhealth.docVIP

A Brief Review on Effectiveness of School-Based Mental Health Sui Zhang, CSW and Kelly Feller, MSW Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Services/ Utah Behavioral Health Center of Excellence Social Research Institute, University of Utah December 11, 2007 RESEARCH QUESTION Is school-based mental health an effective evidence-based mental health intervention? METHOD Various studies were secured by using the following method. A computer search was conducted November 21, 2007 in the following databases: Google Scholar, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, Pre-CINAHL, PsycARTICLES, Psychology, and Behavioral Sciences Collection, PsycINFO, TOPICsearch. The MOLES terms for effectiveness “random* or controlled clinical trial* or control group* or evaluation stud* or study design or statistical* significant* or double-blind or placebo” were combined with the key words “school-based mental health” in the search to target well conducted experimental studies. This research strategy produced 58 abstracts which were reviewed for possible inclusion. Of these, 15 full articles were selected for further review. Two of these articles were multi-study reviews of school-based mental health, and the remaining 13 are individual studies. STUDIES WITH POSITIVE OUTCOMES While the literature indicates some inconsistency in the outcomes of school-based mental health (SBMH); positive outcomes were more commonly found in the research studies reviewed. Of the 13 individual studies reviewed, 11 reported positive results. Rones and Hoagwood (2000) stated in their research review that “It is now well documented that, insofar as children receive any mental health services, schools are the major provider” (p. 223). Studies found that of the 16% of children or adolescents who receive any mental health service, less than 25% received them through the clinical-based services, whereas 75% received them within school (Burns, Costello, Angold, Tweed, Stangl, Farmer, Erkanli, 1995). School-ba