An Examination of School Climate, Victimization, and Mental Health Problems Among Middle School Students Self-Identifying With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamika La Salle ◽  
Heather Peshak George ◽  
D. Betsy McCoach ◽  
Tiffany Polk ◽  
Lauren L. Evanovich

The purpose of the current study was to examine perceptions of school climate among students who self-identify as having an emotional and behavioral disorder (EBD) and their counterparts without disabilities on the Georgia Student Health Survey 2.0. Although research examining the link between perceptions of school climate and student outcomes has increased, no research has examined how students with disabilities, particularly those with EBD, perceive school climate, and the relation of those perceptions to outcomes including peer victimization and mental health problems. The current study found that in comparison with students without disabilities (SWOD), students with EBD (SWEBD) reported significantly lower perceptions of school climate and significantly higher rates of mental health problems and peer victimization. Perceptions of school climate and mental health were inversely associated with reports of victimization among both SWOD and SWEBD. We discuss how educational leaders can improve school climate for SWEBD through tiered systems of supports such as School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports to support mental health and reduce peer victimization.

Author(s):  
Yan Luo ◽  
Zhenti Cui ◽  
Ping Zou ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Zihan Lin ◽  
...  

Approximately one in five adolescents experience mental health problems globally. However, studies on mental health problems in Chinese high school students are few. Therefore, this study examined the status and associated factors of mental health problems in high school students in China. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling procedure was adopted, leading to a final sample of 15,055 participants from 46 high schools in all 17 provincial cities of Henan province, China. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect the data. A mental health problems variable was assessed using the Mental Health Inventory of Middle School Students. The positive rate of mental health problems among high school students was 41.8%, with a male predominance (43.3% versus 40.2% in females; p < 0.01). The most frequent mental health problem was academic stress (58.9%). Higher grades, physical disease, chronic constipation, alcohol consumption, engagement in sexual behavior, residence on campus, and living in nonurban areas and with single-parent families were significantly associated with higher odds of having mental health problems (p < 0.05). We suggest that the prevention of mental health problems in high school students be strengthened, especially in students with physical illnesses, unhealthy behaviors, and single-parent families.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 801-811
Author(s):  
Dat Tan Nguyen ◽  
E. Pamela Wright ◽  
Tam Thi Pham ◽  
Joske Bunders

Abstract The objectives of the study were to explore the experiences of school health officers in identifying and managing mental health problems of secondary school students and to gather recommendations from the school officers for improving the effectiveness of mental health care in secondary schools in Can Tho City, Vietnam. We conducted a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews using a semi-structured guideline with 15 school health officers at 15 secondary schools in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Data were analyzed using content-driven analysis to identify recurring themes. The school health officers reported that stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and sexual orientation issues were the most commonly encountered mental health problems among their students. The officers worked with a limited range of interventions for helping these students, such as giving non-narcotic analgesics or advising students to take a short break at school or to go home. Most of them felt that their training was insufficient to deal with mental health problems in an optimal way. They recommended further training to improve their knowledge and skills in recognizing and managing mental health problems in students. They also considered a university-sponsored mental health website a good source of information on mental health care for students. School health officers reported that they did not feel well equipped to manage mental health problems because of insufficient training, lack confidence, and absence of an appropriate network for advice and referral. Updated policies and programs are needed for initial training and refresher courses, which will strengthen the role of school health officers as first line support for secondary school students with mental health problems.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Trudgen ◽  
Sharon Lawn

AbstractIntroduction:Anxiety and depression in adolescence is prevalent but often unrecognised and untreated. This can lead to serious disorders in later life. This study explored how teachers recognise anxiety and depression in secondary school students and act on their concerns.Method:Twenty teachers from four secondary colleges in regional Victoria, Australia were interviewed regarding their experiences. In-depth interviews were analysed using descriptive thematic analysis in order to understand how teachers respond to this issue.Results:Teachers' recognition of mental health problems in students and the threshold for reporting their concerns was subjective and not based on any formal knowledge of how to identify anxiety or depression risk factors in students. Years of teaching experience was not associated with increased knowledge of mental health problems in students. Time pressures and lack of resources in student wellbeing teams were barriers to teachers reporting their concerns about students.Conclusion:Education bodies and teaching universities responsible for training teachers and providing ongoing professional learning need to ensure that mental health training is part of every teacher's core skill set, so that teachers can confidently promote mental wellbeing, identify emerging mental health problems, know how to facilitate access to more specialist intervention where required and contribute effectively to follow-up support.


2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Stadler ◽  
Julia Feifel ◽  
Sonja Rohrmann ◽  
Robert Vermeiren ◽  
Fritz Poustka

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-88
Author(s):  
Valeriya Yudina ◽  
Tetiana Danylova

This paper aims to investigate contemporary Ukrainian high school students’ attitudes toward mental health problems and ways of solving them


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 1561
Author(s):  
Anil Kumar Tiwari ◽  
Anil Kumar Jaiswal

Background: The status of mental well-being is a function of emotional well-being, psychological well-being and social well-being, and includes aspects like cognitive and social skills, emotional capacity, empathy, ability to cope with adverse events, and capability to function within a society. Various studies have found strong correlations between a person’s immediate surroundings to how they perceive their well-being as well as their actual status of mental health. On one hand, social determinants affect the causation, severity and outcome of mental well-being, on the other hand the state of mental well-being affects the social determinants by affecting personal freedom, ability to make healthy life choices etc. This makes the study of social determinants of mental health very significant.Methods: A cross-sectional, exploratory study of qualitative nature was undertaken in Patna among School going students between the ages 13-17. A self-administered peer reviewed questionnaire was used for data collection.Results: Of 400 participants 19% have features of depression and other mental health problems. Females were more affected. Students of low socioeconomic group (41.6%) and of single parent family (40%) were affected.Conclusions: Mental health problems are very common in adolescent school students. Active steps must be taken to increase awareness about depression among teachers and parents. Early intervention can help prevent worsening of depression and its impact on life.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 232596712095068
Author(s):  
Grant L. Iverson ◽  
Michael W. Williams ◽  
Andrew J. Gardner ◽  
Douglas P. Terry

Background: It is difficult to predict who will experience prolonged health problems after sustaining a sport-related concussion. Purpose: To synthesize the literature and conduct a gap analysis on the association between preinjury mental health problems and clinical outcome from sport-related concussion. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Data sources were PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE (and MEDLINE in Process), CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies published before February 2019 that addressed preinjury mental health problems as a possible predictor of worse clinical outcome or clinical recovery from concussion were eligible for inclusion. Results: Of 4013 studies screened, 358 full texts were reviewed, and 12 studies involving 3761 participants (n = 471 [12.5%] with preexisting mental health problems) were ultimately included. The participants with a preinjury history of mental health problems were at greater risk for having persistent symptoms or worse outcome in 9 of 12 studies. The studies had major methodological differences, and most studies were not focused on mental health as a primary predictor or prognostic factor. Rather, they included it as a secondary or tertiary predictor. The sample sizes with preinjury mental health problems in most studies were small or very small (ie, <25). The age of onset, type, course, severity, and duration of mental health problems were not defined. The extent to which mental health problems were present before the season, during baseline testing, was not reported. Conclusion: Preinjury mental health problems appear to confer risk for worse clinical outcome after sport-related concussion. Future research is needed to (1) examine this risk factor in large representative populations of middle school students, high school students, and collegiate athletes; (2) quantify the risk for each mental health condition; (3) understand the mechanisms underlying this increased risk; and (4) develop more refined treatment and rehabilitation approaches for these student-athletes.


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