Mental Health Assessment of the Frequent Visitors in the School Setting—Part 1: An Overview

Abstract

School nurses manage children with mental health problems on a routine basis. However, many school nurses report having had limited to no training in assessment, recognizing signs and symptoms, or therapeutic interventions for mental health problems in children in their educational programs. This article is Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 1 will provide a background of common mental health conditions, common symptoms, underlying complaints, along with helpful resources for multiple audiences. Part 2 will continue with a focus on mental health assessment in the school setting, including the use of screening tools with a review of the most common medications prescribed for youth with anxiety and depression.

The Pillars of Safety: Unveiling the Impact of Medication Usage on Public and Patient Wellbeing

“…It is noteworthy that a substantial proportion of these healthcare providers report inadequate training in assessing, recognizing signs and symptoms, and implementing therapeutic interventions for mental health challenges in children during their educational programs. [4] Movement Disorders and Pharmacological Influences: Drug induced movement disorders, a frequently underestimated and underdiagnosed phenomenon in clinical practice, significantly impact a considerable segment of the population. Various abnormal movements, including myoclonus, drug induced parkinsonism, tardive dyskinesias, and dyskinesias, are associated with both prescribed medications and illicit drugs.…”