Mental Health Needs of Children in School Role of the Child Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse

Abstract

This article addresses the mental health needs of children in the school system. Children are often exposed to situations in their lives that affect their ability to master developmental and academic tasks resulting in school difficulties. The school system has the opportunity to provide primary prevention and early intervention that will promote the mental health of children. The role of the child psychiatric mental health nurse in the school is described as one model for promoting the mental health of children.ARRY, an 1 1 -year-old sixth grader, slouches in his seat. As the teacher begins to discuss an assignment

Mental Health and Academic Achievement: Role of School Nurses

“…The literature has revealed that mental health certainly links with academic achievement (DeSocio & Hootman, 2004; Hootman, Houck, & King, 2002; Lamb, Puskar, Sereika, Patterson, & Kaufmann, 2003; Opie, & Slater, 1988; Puskar, Sereika, & Haller, 2003). Adelman and Taylor (2000) advocate for the use of school‐based mental health programs to assist youth.…”

A School‐based Primary Prevention Group for Children with Alterations in Health Status

“…School nurses are in a unique position to provide health teaching and self-concept enhancing group experiences for school-aged children (Opie & Slater, 1988). Child psychiatric nurses must advocate for such primary prevention services within the school system.…”

“…The successful acquisiton of adaptive coping skills at this age may well affect life-long coping patterns and subsequent adaptation to developmental and situational stressors. The use of nurses in the school system to effect positive health care in children is well established (Lewis & Lewis, 1982;Opie & Slater, 1988;Wold, 1981).…”

The Role of the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Clinical Specialist in an Adolescent Coping Skills Group

“…Pothier ( 1987a) suggested that primary prevention occurs before the development of symptoms with groups that are considered at risk and that the setting for such prevention is nonpsychiatric, such as day care or the school system. Opie and Slater (1988) cautioned that "the school is not meant to be a child guidance center" (p. 32). These nurses also contended, however, that "primary prevention to facilitate children's physical well being as part of a school's function is well established and well documented as being both beneficial and cost-effective in preventing and reducing long-term effects of ill health" (p. 32).…”