Mental Health Practice in Today's Schools

In today's schools, the variety and consequences of mental health problems are growing and receiving greater public attention. Dwindling resources add to the difficulties of providing adequate mental health services. This practice-oriented, one-stop resource addresses the key mental health issues and challenges facing school-based mental health professionals and helps to facilitate effective and focused mental health consultation, training, and counselling within the school setting. Grounded in a tiered intervention approach to school psychological practices, this text focuses on preventive and proactive services that are integrated at the school-wide and classroom levels, as well as more intensive mental health screening and services for the most vulnerable students. In addition to addressing core mental health issues such as screening for at-risk students, culturally sensitive practices, services and supports for parents, and the role of micro-skills in daily practice, this text also covers such critical topics as service provision for children with Autism and ADHD, Traumatic Brain Injury, school crisis intervention, psychopharmacology, cyber-bullying, conflict mediation training, and substance abuse. It facilitates knowledge and awareness of evidence-based mental health practices in schools, and describes state-of-the-art mental health screening instruments that can be used to identify at-risk students. The relationship between mental health instruction and support within the school is also explored. Chapters feature illustrative case examples as well as summaries of key concepts. Both current school professionals and graduate students of school psychology, counselling, and social work will find this book an essential resource. Key Features: Emphasizes mental health practice from school-wide prevention to student-specific intervention Expands graduate students' and practitioners' knowledge and skill sets regarding high need issues and challenges Describes state-of-the-art mental health screening instruments Includes case examples throughout the text and extensive capstone case studies at the conclusion