Youth Voice and School Mental Health: Identifying Facilitators and Barriers to Participation

• In Event: Expanding Research Practice Partnerships: Integrating Youth Voices for Equitable and Impactful Collaboration

Abstract

Perspectives and Purposes
Given the expanding mental health needs of youth, schools have increased the availability of mental health services and personnel to address those needs (Whitney & Peterson, 2019). Despite the expansion of these supports, a gap exists between the availability of school mental health resources and youth who are willing to seek out and participate in mental health services (Gulliver et al., 2010). As part of a research-practice partnership between a local university and school district, the current study sought to engage middle and high school youth voices to better understand their perspectives and experiences with school mental health services. The current study took place in a large urban midwestern school district where schools universally screen students to identify youth who may benefit from receiving small group support. As there are more mental health groups available than youth who agree to participate, the current study sought to learn more from youth what facilitated or hindered their participation and experiences in school mental health groups.

Data Sources and Methods
Forty-five youth in grades 6-12 participated in 16 focus groups to examine their perceptions across three school mental health-related categories (a) strengths and needs in screening and consent procedures, (b) youth experiences participating in mental health interventions, and (c) suggestions for future iterations to the program. A semi-structured interview protocol was created, and interviewers included school psychology faculty, graduate students, and community mental health clinicians. Interviews were audio recorded and coded. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) to identify themes from interviews.

Results
The relationships youth have with school mental health providers and the climate of the school towards mental health services were the most frequently cited reasons for youth accessing mental health supports in schools. Confidentiality and privacy concerns as well as confusion around the school mental health services being offered were the most prominent reasons youth did not participate in mental health services. Youth who initially participated in mental health groups reflected on motivators to participate and sustain engagement, including curiosity, openness, group connection, and learning new skills.

Significance
Study findings suggest a need to (a) improve how mental health services are advertised, introduced, and discussed with youth in schools, (b) the need for youth to have trusting, collaborative relationships with school-based providers who are gatekeeping these services, and (c) ensuring student privacy in school mental health small group settings. School district leaders were responsive to suggested changes and future program plans include permanent positions for youth on school and district mental health committees.

Authors

• Katie Eklund, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Sinéad O'Neill, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Kierin Barnett, University of Wisconsin - Madison