Article: The Mental Health Training Intervention for School Nurses and Other Health Providers in Schools

School nurses encounter many students presenting with mental health needs. However, school nurses report that they need additional training and resources to be able to support student mental health. This study involved a multilevel, stakeholder-driven process to refine the Mental Health Training Intervention for Health Providers in Schools (MH-TIPS), an in-service training and implementation support system for school health providers, including school nurses, to increase their competence in addressing student mental health concerns. Findings highlighted the importance of mental health content including assessment, common factors of positive therapeutic mental health interactions, common elements of evidence-based mental health practice, and resource and referral mapping. Additionally, multifaceted ongoing professional development processes were indicated. Study findings indicate that, with recommended modifications, the MH-TIPS holds promise as a feasible, useful intervention to support school nurse practice and ultimately impact student mental health and educational outcomes.

Citing Articles

A Rapid Review of Mental Health Training Programs for School Nurses.

Thomas C, Nielsen T, Best N J Sch Nurs. 2024; 41(1):158-171.

PMID: 39262358 PMC: 11755978. DOI: 10.1177/10598405241277798.

Public health nurses experience of mental health encounters in the context of primary health care: a constructivist grounded theory study.

Nilsson E, Johanson S, Behm L, Bejerholm U BMC Nurs. 2023; 22(1):181.

PMID: 37231400 PMC: 10209567. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01340-7.

The role of social adversity on emotional dysregulation during infancy and early childhood.

Adynski H, Propper C, Beeber L, Gilmore J, Zou B, Santos Jr H J Pediatr Nurs. 2023; 72:26-35.

PMID: 37037102 PMC: 10560316. DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2023.03.010.

Testing the Assumptions in the Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services Using Empirical Data, Focusing on Cultural Awareness.

Sahamkhadam N, Andersson A, Golsater M, Harder M, Granlund M, Wahlstrom E J Transcult Nurs. 2023; 34(3):187-194.

PMID: 36759971 PMC: 10114250. DOI: 10.1177/10436596231152212.

The Tourette OCD Alberta Network: Development of a Continuing Professional Development Program for Community Based Mental Health Therapists.

Fletcher J, Martino D, MacMaster F, Wilcox G, Pringsheim T Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2023; 55(5):1423-1430.

PMID: 36759397 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-023-01503-2.

References

1.

Castonguay L, Beutler L . Principles of therapeutic change: a task force on participants, relationships, and techniques factors. J Clin Psychol. 2006; 62(6):631-8. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.20256. View

2.

Benzer J, Beehler S, Miller C, Burgess J, Sullivan J, Mohr D . Grounded theory of barriers and facilitators to mandated implementation of mental health care in the primary care setting. Depress Res Treat. 2012; 2012:597157. PMC: 3414007. DOI: 10.1155/2012/597157. View

3.

Allison V, Nativio D, Mitchell A, Ren D, Yuhasz J . Identifying symptoms of depression and anxiety in students in the school setting. J Sch Nurs. 2013; 30(3):165-72. DOI: 10.1177/1059840513500076. View

4.

Weisz J, Chorpita B, Palinkas L, Schoenwald S, Miranda J, Bearman S . Testing standard and modular designs for psychotherapy treating depression, anxiety, and conduct problems in youth: a randomized effectiveness trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011; 69(3):274-82. DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.147. View

5.

Karver M, Handelsman J, Fields S, Bickman L . Meta-analysis of therapeutic relationship variables in youth and family therapy: the evidence for different relationship variables in the child and adolescent treatment outcome literature. Clin Psychol Rev. 2005; 26(1):50-65. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2005.09.001. View

6.

Wissow L, Anthony B, Brown J, dosReis S, Gadomski A, Ginsburg G . A common factors approach to improving the mental health capacity of pediatric primary care. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2008; 35(4):305-18. PMC: 4002282. DOI: 10.1007/s10488-008-0178-7. View

7.

Beidas R, Edmunds J, Marcus S, Kendall P . Training and consultation to promote implementation of an empirically supported treatment: a randomized trial. Psychiatr Serv. 2012; 63(7):660-5. PMC: 3432154. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201100401. View

8.

Herschell A, Kolko D, Baumann B, Davis A . The role of therapist training in the implementation of psychosocial treatments: a review and critique with recommendations. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010; 30(4):448-66. PMC: 2872187. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.02.005. View

9.

Ravenna J, Cleaver K . School Nurses' Experiences of Managing Young People With Mental Health Problems: A Scoping Review. J Sch Nurs. 2015; 32(1):58-70. DOI: 10.1177/1059840515620281. View

10.

Bickman L . A common factors approach to improving mental health services. Ment Health Serv Res. 2005; 7(1):1-4. DOI: 10.1007/s11020-005-1961-7. View

11.

Palinkas L, Aarons G, Horwitz S, Chamberlain P, Hurlburt M, Landsverk J . Mixed method designs in implementation research. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2010; 38(1):44-53. PMC: 3025112. DOI: 10.1007/s10488-010-0314-z. View