As the field of mental health continues to develop, there\u2019s a growing global focus driving the industry towards more evidence-based practices, with consistently collected patient reported outcome measures (PROM\u2019s) at the core of the momentum. But there\u2019s a particular area that\u2019s gaining more traction as it recognizes the glaring need for highly effective youth mental health interventions: school mental health.<\/p>\n
School mental health has only become its own distinct field over the last decade. This is largely in response to the unique challenges and opportunities that present themselves within the school-based setting. Researchers and practitioners involved are interested in developing programs and services that enhance mental health education, support stigma reduction, increase access to mental health services and early interventions for children and youth, and improve the breadth and quality of school-based treatment that meets students where they are. This movement is vital to the mental wellness of school-aged children, but there is still a lack of broad consensus and cohesion across North America when it comes to the approach to implementing the evidenced-based practices necessary to support the diverse communities, youth, and challenges present in school settings.<\/span><\/p>\n It is promising to see that researchers, school boards, service organizations and governments across North America are working towards a shared goal of improving the wellbeing of our youth. For example, Maryland, Illinois, and California have each allocated hundreds of millions in new funding to innovative initiatives that better support the mental health of children and adolescents. Earlier this year,<\/span> youth mental health experts gathered<\/span><\/a> in British Columbia, Canada, to brainstorm strategies for planning, implementing, and evaluating mental health services in schools throughout North America.<\/span><\/p>\n But, why has MBC in schools become such an important topic and what are the benefits of its implementation?<\/span><\/p>\n The benefits of Measurement-Based Care are numerous and well-researched. We frequently share outcome data which shows that MBC contributes to a 42% higher overall improvement in clinical symptoms, a 3.5x higher likelihood that a client experiences reliable change, and 40% lower dropout or cancellation rates. Families often face barriers to accessing traditional clinic or hospital-based care, so schools can often be the sole or primary setting in which children and adolescents are able to receive mental healthcare. In fact, 45-80% of children and youth who seek out mental health treatment, do so at school (<\/span>Burns et al., 1995<\/span><\/a>; <\/span>Green et al., 2013<\/span><\/a>). The goal in implementing MBC in schools is to better support the well-being of children and youth as they move through the school system. We can do so by ensuring that all available supports and resources are responsive to the individual needs of each student and that we have a strong understanding of the overall effectiveness of care. In doing so, school boards are empowered to identify services gaps and ensure mental health resource investments best support the needs of their students. Here\u2019s a brief look at a few of the positive ways Measurement-Based Care impacts mental healthcare in the school setting:<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Objective Assessment<\/b>: MBC allows educators and school counsellors to collect and leverage objective data about a student’s mental and emotional well-being. This data offers a clear picture of the challenges each student is facing and the progress they are, or are not, making in treatment while also helping identify challenges that may otherwise go unnoticed. This helps providers tailor treatment to each student’s unique needs, while generating aggregate data and learnings that provide insight to inform future programming and resource allocation. An objective understanding of a students wellness is also critical for effective triage to ensure students access the most appropriate care for their needs, allowing schools to direct youth to self-guided service options or to long-term counselling, community or hospital-based programs as needed, depending on the severity of their challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Early Identification<\/b>: Primary to secondary school is a pivotal stage of growth and learning for young people. MBC helps with early identification of students who are at risk of developing severe mental health challenges and would benefit from more intensive care. Early identification allows for timely intervention, where students can access appropriate services and avoid the deterioration of their mental health prior to finding the support they need.<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Resilience & Self-Understanding:<\/b> By engaging children and youth in their mental health early on and using regular assessment throughout, you give them the tools to really understand themselves as they progress through life. Not only can they learn to monitor their ups and downs, identify the potential causes, and communicate what they\u2019re experiencing\u2014 they can build valuable coping mechanisms that can carry them throughout their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Improved Communication<\/b>: MBC helps build a shared language between counsellors and students, school staff, parents, and healthcare providers. It promotes collaboration and ensures that everyone involved in a student’s care is on the same page, understands student needs, and is working towards the ultimate goal of improving their well-being. Dr. Amber Childs, licensed clinical psychologist specializing in youth and adolescent services and member of the Yale Measurement-Based Care Collaborative, shares the value that data brings to conversations with youth in care, as you can guarantee that their voice will be centered in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
One major element that all of these initiatives have in common is the inclusion of Measurement-Based Care as a foundational component of the solutions for school-based settings\u2014 a trend that is rapidly gaining traction in both Canada and the US.<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Measurement-Based Care in Schools: Setting the Standard for Support<\/h2>\n