Identifying preschool children’s social emotional and mental health difficulties: validation of the Early Years Boxall Profile (EYBP)

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Florence J. M. Ruby
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties

scholarly journals Primary schools and the amplification of social differences in child mental health: a population-based cohort study

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Marryat ◽  
Lucy Thompson ◽  
Helen Minnis ◽  
Philip Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Population Based ◽  
School Level ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Early Primary ◽  
Additional Support

BackgroundThis paper examines socioeconomic inequalities in mental health at school entry and explores changes in these inequalities over the first 3 years of school.MethodsThe study utilises routinely collected mental health data from education records and demographic data at ages 4 and 7 years, along with administrative school-level data. The study was set in preschool establishments and schools in Glasgow City, Scotland. Data were available on 4011 children (59.4%)at age 4 years, and 3166 of these children were followed at age 7 years (46.9% of the population). The main outcome measure was the teacher-rated Goodman’s Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (4–16 version) at age 7 years, which measures social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.ResultsChildren living in the most deprived area had higher levels of mental health difficulties at age 4 years, compared with their most affluent counterparts (7.3%vs4.1% with abnormal range scores). There was a more than threefold widening of this disparity over time, so that by the age of 7 years, children from the most deprived area quintile had rates of difficulties 3.5 times higher than their more affluent peers. Children’s demographic backgrounds strongly predicted their age 7 scores, although schools appeared to make a significant contribution to mental health trajectories.ConclusionsAdditional support to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds at preschool and in early primary school may help narrow inequalities. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds started school with a higher prevalence of mental health difficulties, compared with their more advantaged peers, and this disparity widened markedly over the first 3 years of school.

scholarly journals In the child’s voice: The experiences of primary school children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-434
Author(s):  
Alice Dolton ◽  
Sarah Adams ◽  
Michelle O’Reilly
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
School Children ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
The Impact

In England schools are increasingly responsible for supporting children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties yet their voices are rarely represented. Through semi-structured interviews, the views of 11 children aged 6–11 years with SEMH difficulties were sought. Using thematic analysis two themes were identified – (1) social relationships and interactions, and (2) emotional and behavioural reactions. The children demonstrated that they were articulate and reflective about the impact their difficulties have in the learning environment. For some, they reported building and maintaining close reciprocal friendships which they felt enriched their time at school. It was concluded that children with SEMH difficulties need to feel safe and supported by adults to flourish in school. This work demonstrates the importance of taking a child-centred approach, allowing children to feel heard, understood and valued.

scholarly journals Mental Health Promotion Efforts for Children and Youth in Canada and Beyond: Evidence in Research, Policy and Practice

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Whitley ◽  
Suzanne Gooderham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Student Outcomes ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Mental Health Promotion ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties

terms of both psychological and academic outcomes. Growing numbers of students are placed “at risk” as a result. A mental health promotion approach suggests that students can develop a number of skills and competencies, namely those related to social-emotional learning (SEL), which can reduce their chance of developing mental health difficulties. In Canada, a wide range of curricula, frameworks, initiatives, and programs have been put in place that address elements of SEL. In this paper, a sampling of these drawn from across the country is described. The emphasis on SEL apparent in many provinces and territories is evidence of the shared understanding of its importance with respect to improving student outcomes. However, a lack of evidence to support these approaches, inconsistencies in terms of terminology and practices, the lack of alignment between SEL and academics, and the piecemeal approach adopted within some provinces leave SEL and mental health promotion approaches vulnerable to being labelled “add-ons” and becoming transient initiatives.

scholarly journals Prevention of Mental Health Difficulties for Children Aged 0–3 Years: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Izett ◽  
Rosanna Rooney ◽  
Susan L. Prescott ◽  
Mia De Palma ◽  
Maryanne McDevitt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Critical Time ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Infancy And Early Childhood

The period of infancy and early childhood is a critical time for interventions to prevent future mental health problems. The first signs of mental health difficulties can be manifest in infancy, emphasizing the importance of understanding and identifying both protective and risk factors in pregnancy and the early postnatal period. Parents are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems during the perinatal period. An understanding of the evidence around prevention and intervention for parental anxiety and depression is vital to the process of prevention of early mental health disorders in infants and young children. Here we review the existing prevention and treatment interventions in the early years focusing on the period from conception to 3 years – the majority targeting parents in order to improve their mental health, and that of their infants. Elements of successful programs for parents include psychoeducation and practical skills training, as well as work on the co-parenting relationship, developing secure attachment, and enhancing parental reflective functioning. While both targeted and universal programs have produced strong effect sizes, universal programs have the added benefit of reaching people who may otherwise not have sought treatment. In synthesizing this information, our goal is to inform the development of integrated models for prevention and novel early intervention programs as early in life as possible.

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