John P. Salerno
Effectiveness of Universal School?Based Mental Health Awareness Programs Among Youth in the United States: A Systematic Review
University of Miami
abstract background stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness low mental health literacy identified links social adversity barriers seeking adhering treatment among adolescents suffering mental illness prior research found possible improve outcomes using schoolbased mental health awareness interventions purpose study review empirical literature pertaining universal mental health awareness interventions aiming improve mental health related outcomes among students enrolled us k12 schools especially minorities vulnerable health disparities methods psycinfo cochrane library pubmed reference lists relevant articles searched k12 schoolbased mental health awareness interventions united states universal studies measured knowledge attitudes andor helpseeking pertinent mental health included results total 15 studies selected part review 7 pretestposttest case series 5 nonrandomized experimental trial 1 solomon 4groups 2 randomized controlled trial rct designs nine studies measuring knowledge 8 studies measuring attitudes 4 studies measuring helpseeking indicated statistically significant improvements conclusions although results studies indicated level improvement research implementation universal schoolbased mental health awareness programs needed using rct study designs longterm followup implementation