Neil Humphrey|Michael Wigelsworth
Making the case for universal school-based mental health screening
University of Manchester|University of Manchester
mental health difficulties affect 1 10 children adolescents half adult cases begin school years individual societal impacts difficulties huge include poorer quality life lost economic productivity destabilisation communities high rates health education social care service utilisation using early intervention prevention schools central component coordinated response emergent public health crisis makes good sense schools play central role lives children families reach unparalleled argued truly comprehensive effective mental health promotion schools requires universal screening component controversial proposition article explore opportunities challenges posed system critically assess international literature social validity eg acceptability feasibility utility definition conceptualisation eg mean mental health related terms design implementation eg planning tool selection linking referral intervention systems psychometric considerations eg available instruments reliable valid diversity eg taking account cultural variation costs benefits eg human financial material costs universal screening justified improvements provision outcomes bring conclude presenting vision schoolbased system takes account important factors