The Gatehouse Project: A Systematic Approach to Mental Health Promotion in Secondary Schools

Abstract

Educational environments are complex systems undergoing continuous and simultaneous changes. The Gatehouse Project will provide unique information on the relationship between the social environment and the emotional wellbeing of young people. More importantly it outlines a sustainable process for building the capacity of schools to promote the social and emotional development of young people.

Acções de sensibilização pró-saúde mental em escolas

“…Furthermore, the absence of significant differences on the global score of stigmatizing perceptions is in line with previous research 8,21 showing that changes in attitudes are expected to occur in longer interventions, when compared to briefer ones 8,25 . Participants showed a significant decrease, from pre to post intervention, in one's intention to seek help but, on the other hand, most students moved to considering different types of help.…”

“…In this sense, the fact that students, after the intervention, moved to considering different types of help is considered a positive outcome. These results highlight the role of knowledge in designing interventions to promote mental health, in the sense that problems' early detection and appropriate help seeking only occur if students and significant others (family, teachers and friends) are informed about mental disorders symptoms and available resources 25 . In what concerns students' willingness to help significant others presenting a mental problem, there were no significant differences between pre and post-intervention, probably due to the fact that at pre-intervention assessment 96.2% already revealed that they would.…”

“…On the other hand, it should be emphasized that intervention's contents and strategies were dynamic, appealing and reflexive, which are fundamental characteristics to the success of this type of interventions 26 . Despite the fact that most interventions aimed at promoting mental health (including UPA Makes the Difference project) are brief 25 , efforts should be made in order to develop long-lasting interventions 25,27 , considering that change of attitudes and behaviors take time, and could be increased through booster sessions 28 . The development of effective school-based interventions targeting young people should consider: their views on mental health; how they construct their knowledge about this topic; as well…”

Wraparound Counseling: An Ecosystemic Approach to Working With Economically Disadvantaged Students in Urban School Settings

“…Although there has been limited success with school-based interventions, the traditional approach in which mental health professionals are reactive and remediation-oriented has not sufficiently served the school community's needs (Patton et al, 2000). Services are often fragmented and predominantly couched in assessment and consultation (Paternite, 2005).…”

Identification of “At-risk” Students for Prevention and Early Intervention Programs in Secondary Schools

“…Therefore, their involvement in the identification process is one way to ensure ownership and collaboration in providing selected and indicated programs in schools. This process needs to be time efficient because of teachers' work intensification (Patton, Glover, et al, 2000).…”