Supporting Adolescents with Mental Health Problems in Secondary Education: Feasibility of a Supported Education Intervention

Overview

Journal Int J Environ Res Public Health

Publisher MDPI

Specialties Environmental Health
Public Health

Date 2022 Jun 10

PMID 35682337

Authors

Lindy Beukema

Jacomijn Hofstra

Sijmen A Reijneveld

Andrea F de Winter

E L Korevaar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Mental health problems in adolescence can have a profound influence on school functioning, educational attainment and thus future societal participation. Supported education (SEd) is a potentially useful method for educational professionals to help adolescents with mental health problems in secondary school improve their functioning by stimulating collaboration, ownership, and participation. In this study, we examined the feasibility of SEd in secondary education by examining its acceptability, implementation, and preliminary effectiveness. We performed a mixed-methods study using quantitative data (questionnaires) and qualitative data (interviews) from educational professionals (EP) and adolescents, aged 13-17, about their experiences with a SEd intervention. Regarding the acceptability of the intervention, three main themes emerged: (a) structure, (b) autonomy, and (c) applicability of the intervention. Themes regarding the implementation were: (a) lack of time, (b) personal attitude, (c) mastery, and (d) complexity of the school environment. The findings show that, for those that followed the intervention, SEd is a promising approach to support adolescents with mental health problems to improve their functioning and participation in school. Further research is needed on the effectiveness of the intervention.

References

Stevens A, Beurskens A, Koke A, van der Weijden T . The use of patient-specific measurement instruments in the process of goal-setting: a systematic review of available instruments and their feasibility. Clin Rehabil. 2013; 27(11):1005-19. DOI: 10.1177/0269215513490178. View

Veldman K, Bultmann U, Stewart R, Ormel J, Verhulst F, Reijneveld S . Mental health problems and educational attainment in adolescence: 9-year follow-up of the TRAILS study. PLoS One. 2014; 9(7):e101751. PMC: 4105412. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101751. View

Kiresuk T, Sherman R . Goal attainment scaling: A general method for evaluating comprehensive community mental health programs. Community Ment Health J. 2013; 4(6):443-53. DOI: 10.1007/BF01530764. View

Bast L, Andersen H, Andersen A, Lauemoller S, Bonnesen C, Krolner R . School Coordinators' Perceptions of Organizational Readiness Is Associated with Implementation Fidelity in a Smoking Prevention Program: Findings from the X:IT II Study. Prev Sci. 2021; 22(3):312-323. PMC: 8032573. DOI: 10.1007/s11121-020-01197-1. View

Bor W, Dean A, Najman J, Hayatbakhsh R . Are child and adolescent mental health problems increasing in the 21st century? A systematic review. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2014; 48(7):606-16. DOI: 10.1177/0004867414533834. View

Luszczynska A, Scholz U, Schwarzer R . The general self-efficacy scale: multicultural validation studies. J Psychol. 2005; 139(5):439-57. DOI: 10.3200/JRLP.139.5.439-457. View

Goodman R . Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001; 40(11):1337-45. DOI: 10.1097/00004583-200111000-00015. View

Kessler R, Berglund P, Demler O, Jin R, Merikangas K, Walters E . Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005; 62(6):593-602. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593. View

Cashmore J . Promoting the participation of children and young people in care. Child Abuse Negl. 2002; 26(8):837-47. DOI: 10.1016/s0145-2134(02)00353-8. View

10.

Ormel J, Raven D, van Oort F, Hartman C, Reijneveld S, Veenstra R . Mental health in Dutch adolescents: a TRAILS report on prevalence, severity, age of onset, continuity and co-morbidity of DSM disorders. Psychol Med. 2014; 45(2):345-60. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291714001469. View

11.

Cilar L, Stiglic G, Kmetec S, Barr O, Pajnkihar M . Effectiveness of school-based mental well-being interventions among adolescents: A systematic review. J Adv Nurs. 2020; 76(8):2023-2045. DOI: 10.1111/jan.14408. View

12.

Veldman K, Bultmann U, Almansa J, Reijneveld S . Childhood Adversities and Educational Attainment in Young Adulthood: The Role of Mental Health Problems in Adolescence. J Adolesc Health. 2015; 57(5):462-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.08.004. View

13.

Salerno J . Effectiveness of Universal School-Based Mental Health Awareness Programs Among Youth in the United States: A Systematic Review. J Sch Health. 2016; 86(12):922-931. PMC: 5123790. DOI: 10.1111/josh.12461. View

14.

Wei Y, Hayden J, Kutcher S, Zygmunt A, McGrath P . The effectiveness of school mental health literacy programs to address knowledge, attitudes and help seeking among youth. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2013; 7(2):109-21. DOI: 10.1111/eip.12010. View

15.

Caldwell D, Davies S, Hetrick S, Palmer J, Caro P, Lopez-Lopez J . School-based interventions to prevent anxiety and depression in children and young people: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2019; 6(12):1011-1020. PMC: 7029281. DOI: 10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30403-1. View

16.

Vogels A, Crone M, Hoekstra F, Reijneveld S . Comparing three short questionnaires to detect psychosocial dysfunction among primary school children: a randomized method. BMC Public Health. 2009; 9:489. PMC: 2804619. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-489. View

17.

Snyder M . Changing the tide: stigma, school youth, and mental illness. NASN Sch Nurse. 2015; 30(2):130-2. DOI: 10.1177/1942602X14553307. View

18.

Bastiaansen D, Koot H, Bongers I, Varni J, Verhulst F . Measuring quality of life in children referred for psychiatric problems: psychometric properties of the PedsQL 4.0 generic core scales. Qual Life Res. 2004; 13(2):489-95. DOI: 10.1023/B:QURE.0000018483.01526.ab. View

19.

Fleuren M, Paulussen T, van Dommelen P, van Buuren S . Towards a measurement instrument for determinants of innovations. Int J Qual Health Care. 2014; 26(5):501-10. PMC: 4195468. DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzu060. View

20.

Muris P, Meesters C, van den Berg F . The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)--further evidence for its reliability and validity in a community sample of Dutch children and adolescents. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003; 12(1):1-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00787-003-0298-2. View