Tips, Tactics, and Training to Improve Youth Mental Health in Your Community-View Presentation

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Video Summary

The session focused on youth mental health, emphasizing the importance of awareness and intervention in schools to address a growing mental health crisis among young people. Christopher Chunseely, the program director for school and justice initiatives at the APA Foundation, led the session. It included a two-minute guided meditation to prepare participants for learning. The session introduced Notice, Talk, Act at School, a program designed to train educators in recognizing and responding to mental health issues in students. Data showed significant reductions in truancy, discipline referrals, and major mental health events in schools implementing the program. Dr. Anish Dubé provided insights into the mental health landscape, highlighting statistics showing high rates of mental health disorders among youth and the lengthy periods often involved in accessing care. Involving school staff in mental health training is crucial, given their role in students' lives. Dr. Gabrielle Shapiro emphasized integrating therapy, family engagement, and sometimes medication to tackle youth depression effectively. She stressed the need for social-emotional learning in schools. Dr. Latoya Frolov highlighted tactics to improve access to care, including collaboration with pediatricians and the use of telemedicine programs to offer therapy in schools, reducing barriers like time and transportation. The session ended with a call for collaboration among mental health professionals, schools, and communities to address mental health challenges. Audience interaction included questions about implementing programs in schools and the role of public health education in addressing mental health.

Keywords

youth mental health

awareness

school intervention

Christopher Chunseely

Notice Talk Act

truancy reduction

Anish Dubé

mental health disorders

Gabrielle Shapiro

social-emotional learning

telemedicine

public health education