Evaluating the Efficacy of a School-Based Universal Mental Health Education Intervention for Adolescents

• In Event: Social-Emotional and Motivational Inputs to Success

Abstract

Many schools in the U.S. provide some level of onsite mental health services through school-based professionals. However, the mental health needs among adolescents are substantially greater than these resources can address. While face-to-face treatment is the gold standard, in-person intervention methods are costly and time consuming, facing much challenging especially during the pandemic, schools have difficulty addressing the mental health of students with high need. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the BASE mental health education program with middle school students. Results of randomized controlled trial design indicated students in the BASE condition showed significant development in mental health knowledge and school engagement over a 5-week period whereas the control group showed decline.

Authors

• Lin Ma, Augusta University

• Melissa E. Derosier

• Deb Childress

• Kelly Kocher