Policy makers, teachers, parents, and clinicians alike are increasingly aware of the benefits of mental health services provided in schools, and that these services have the potential to meet an unmet, urgent need among youth. Schools provide a natural setting for accessing students needing a range of mental health services, especially traditionally underserved student populations (Anglin, 2003; NCTSN, 2017). There is substantial data pointing to exponential increases in anxiety, depression, and other mental health, behavioral, and developmental issues in children and youth (e.g., Bitsko et al., 2018; Horowitz & Graf, 2019; North Carolina School Mental Health Initiative, NCSMHI, n.d., Thompson, et al., 2021) that impede their ability to manage their emotions, establish positive relationships with peers and educators, make responsible decisions, and achieve positive goals (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, CASEL, 2019). A greater commitment to children’s socio-emotional needs in schools, many schools struggle to provide adequate programming and services to address challenges students bring into the classroom (NCSMHI, n.d). In high-needs schools, these services often are primarily reactive and fragmented due to, among other challenges, under-staffed and inexperienced student services personnel (i.e., school psychologists, school counselors) (NCSMHI, n.d.) as well as inadequate resources to support mental health care services. This presentation will cover potential roles for psychiatry in schools, including a role not only in consulting on high-risk clinical scenarios but also in supporting the full continuum of mental health services and supports. It will provide a broader framework for work that is underway in the federal government. Lastly, the audience will hear about one example model of service delivery in North Carolina, funded through SAMHSA’s Project AWARE grant. Audience will have the opportunity to hear how these school districts address the three tiers of mental health (promotion, prevention, and intervention) through a continuum of education, universal screening, and appropriate services and supports for all students in response to varying levels of need aligned with a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Participants will walk away with practical implementation guidance, framework, partnership ideas, and resources to scale up social emotional and mental health supports for students and clients they serve.
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity.
This presentation was recorded at the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting 2023.
Learning Objectives
- To consider the role of psychiatry in the evolving landscape of mental health services and supports in K-12 schools
- To gain knowledge of resources and frameworks to support the continuum of mental health services in schools.
- To understand federal activities in the area of school mental health
- To examine one example of a model of service delivery by hearing from Project AWARE grantees in North Carolina
Target Audience
Medical Students, Residents/Fellows, Psychiatrists
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.5 hours
Begin Date: August 1, 2024
End Date: August 1, 2027
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ or a certificate of participation may do so by completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the event date and hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, the American Psychiatric Association is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians
The APA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity — including faculty, planners, reviewers or others — are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Program Presenters
- Justine Larson, MD.
- Sunny Patel, MD, MPH.
- Heather Gotham, PhD.
- Jessica Gonzalez, MSW.
Program Planners
- Vishal Madaan, MD. Chief of Education and Deputy Medical Director, APA.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
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Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
- The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
- Internet Explorer 11+
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Optimal System Configuration:
- Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
- Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
- Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
- Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
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