Do universal school-based mental health promotion programmes improve the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young people? A literature review.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine evidence-using a range of outcomes-for the effectiveness of school-based mental health and emotional well-being programmes.

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that 20% of young people experience mental health difficulties every year. Schools have been identified as an appropriate setting for providing mental health and emotional well-being promotion prompting the need to determine whether current school-based programmes are effective in improving the mental health and emotional well-being of young people.

METHODS: A systematic search was conducted using the health and education databases, which identified 29 studies that measured the effectiveness of school-based universal interventions. Prisma guidelines were used during the literature review process.

RESULTS: Thematic analysis generated three key themes: (i) help seeking and coping; (ii) social and emotional well-being; and (iii) psycho-educational effectiveness.

CONCLUSION: It is concluded that whilst these studies show promising results, there is a need for further robust evaluative studies to guide future practice.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: All available opportunities should be taken to provide mental health promotion interventions to young people in the school environment, with a requirement for educational professionals to be provided the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure that the school setting continues to be a beneficial environment for conducting mental health promotion.