Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Support: Validating Scores on the Mental Distress Response Scale With High School Students

Abstract

This investigation tested the internal structure of scores on the Mental Distress Response Scale (MDRS), a peer-to-peer mental health support screening tool, with a national sample of 237 adolescents from 111 high schools in 30 states. Results revealed psychometric support for the scores on the MDRS and demographic differences in students’ responses. We discuss implications for how school counselors can use the MDRS to enhance peer-to-peer mental health support as part of a comprehensive school counseling program.

A Phenomenological Investigation of Universal Mental Health Screening: Making Meaning for School Counseling

“…For instance, Kalkbrenner et al (2020) validated a screener for school counselors to determine high school students' barriers to obtaining counseling; the results of the screener can help school counselors target their efforts to reduce counseling-stigma behaviors. Similarly, Kalkbrenner and Goodman-Scott (2021) validated another screener on adolescent peer-to-peer mental health supports; this garners educators a better understanding of their students' peerto-peer mental health engagement, leading school counselors to better understand mental health areas to enhance, maintain, and so forth. Both studies provided insight into screeners school counselors can use in the context of their comprehensive programs.…”

“…Surgeon General (2021) recommended the implementation of MTSS, UMHS, and school-based multidisciplinary teams, including school counselors. Research on UMHS and school counseling is burgeoning, including two practitioner-focused single-case studies (Donohue et al, 2016; Erickson & Abel, 2013) and the validation of UMHS instruments specifically for school counselors within comprehensive school counseling programs and MTSS (Kalkbrenner et al, 2020; Kalkbrenner & Goodman-Scott, 2021). Outside of school counseling-specific literature, two studies have examined school-based UMHS teams (Brann et al, 2021; Briesch et al, 2021), describing school staff integral in UMHS, such as school psychologists, teachers, and administrators; neither study named school counselors in their UMHS research.…”

Universal Mental Health Screening: Steps for School Counselors Through Multidisciplinary Teaming

“…Similarly, in another practitioner-focused, single-case study, high school counselors in one school played an integral role in developing effective screening processes for depression and suicidal ideation, which led to improved mental health throughout the school (Erickson & Abel, 2013). Kalkbrenner and Goodman-Scott (2021) and Kalkbrenner et al (2020) validated screeners specifically for school counselors to use as part of their efforts providing K-12 UMHS. The existing literature reinforces school counselors' involvement in UMHS to meet students' mental health needs.…”