Enhancing Educator Engagement in School Mental Health Care Through Digital Simulation Professional Development

Abstract

We found that a brief online role-play simulation was an effective strategy for improving teacher attitudes and behaviors needed to perform a positive mental health gatekeeper role in schools.

Mental Health and Wellbeing at Schools: Health Promotion in Primary Schools with the Use of Digital Methods

“…The studies conducted among teachers were mainly focused on skills of teachers to influence students’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. More specifically, one study, conducted in the USA, assessed elementary school teachers’ ability to influence attitudes and behaviors of students with psychological distress using an online mental health role-play simulation [ 38 ]; the other study, conducted in Brazil, applied web-based educational programs for teachers to gain knowledge and modify attitudes and beliefs about students with mental disorders [ 39 ]; the study in Canada applied web-based program for teachers to improve knowledge and increase their ability to reduce symptoms and impairment of students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a school environment [ 40 ].…”

“…Long et al used an online mental health role-play simulation tool, the “At-Risk for Elementary School Educators”. A set of virtual dialogues (conversations) between teachers and students or parents was provided and the teachers were able to see the respondents’ reactions so as to select a less critical and judgmental conversation [ 38 ]. Barnett et al used a variety of technological tools for the online intervention (i.e., discussion board, intrasystem email, assessments and web links) [ 40 ].…”

“…The scales were used for measuring student’s depression, self-esteem and negative thinking (i.e., the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale Child and Parent Version, Adolescent Well-Being Scale, Schema Questionnaire for Children and Rosenberg Self Esteem Inventory) [ 43 ] or fears/worries and behavioral weaknesses (i.e., the Beck Anxiety Inventory for Youth, BASC-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System, Children’s Usage Rating Profile and the Usage Rating Profile–Intervention Revised) [ 42 ]. Validated scales were also used for measuring teacher’s attitudes and behavioral changes (i.e., The Gatekeeper Behavior Scale) [ 38 ] or anxiety disorders, mental health knowledge, negative self-statements, etc., in children (i.e., The Screen for Child Anxiety—Related Emotional Disorder, Mental Health Knowledge Checklist, Children’s Automatic Thoughts Scale-Negative or Positive, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) [ 41 ]. Questionnaires were also used for assessing knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes.…”

Innovative Virtual Role Play Simulations for Managing Substance Use Conversations: Pilot Study Results and Relevance During and After COVID-19

“…These studies have found that virtual role play practices can provide an efficacious means of delivering screening and brief intervention training for health care providers [29][30][31][32][33][34], and have proven to successfully change attitudinal constructs and behaviors in K12 and higher education settings related to identifying; talking to; and, if necessary, referring students in psychological distress. [29,[35][36][37][38][39]. Virtual role play simulations that integrated MI techniques were equally effective across multiple races and ethnicities including people who were Black, Hispanic, Latinx, White, Asian, and American Indian or Alaska Native [40,41].…”

Re-thinking Digital Health: Data, Appisation and the (im)possibility of ‘Opting out’

“…The first contribution lies in our proposed paradigmatic shift from engagement to dis-engagement as a starting point for discussing health appisation (for a broader discussion of ‘digital disengagement’ as a shift in media studies, see Kuntsman and Miyake 16 ). Current research into digital health, including critical scholarship, 5,17–20 still largely prioritises engagement with digital technologies. Because digital engagement provides access to social networks and health e-resources for individuals, support groups, carers and practitioners, the aim of digital health seems to be – like all other sectors – to make citizen engagement and the digital inseparable from one another.…”