Mental health interventions in schools in low-income and middle-income countries.

Fazel M., Patel V., Thomas S., Tol W.

Increasing enrolment rates could place schools in a crucial position to support mental health in low-income and middle-income countries. In this Review, we provide evidence for mental health interventions in schools in accordance with a public mental health approach spanning promotion, prevention, and treatment. We identified a systematic review for mental health promotion, and identified further prevention and treatment studies. Present evidence supports schools as places for promotion of positive aspects of mental health using a whole-school approach. Knowledge of effectiveness of prevention and treatment interventions is more widely available for conflict-affected children and adolescents. More evidence is needed to identify the many elements likely to be associated with effective prevention and treatment for children exposed to a range of adversity and types of mental disorders. Dissemination and implementation science is crucial to establish how proven effective interventions could be scaled up and implemented in schools.

DOI

10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70357-8

Type

Journal article

Journal

Lancet Psychiatry

Publication Date

10/2014

Volume

1

Pages

388 - 398

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