Background: This study examined trauma screening and behavioral health linkage rates in school-based health centers (SBHCs). Methods: Participants included 4161 English- and Spanish-speaking patients between the ages of 12 and 22 across 8 urban SBHCs 2 years. Screening rates at medical visits and linkage to additional behavioral health screening…

Background: School-based health centers (SBHC) can address unmet mental health needs. Little is known about how students seek care from different providers at SBHCs. We describe and compare how students' SBHC visits differ for students seen by mental health providers (MH group) relative to students seen only by primary care providers (PC group).…

Background: For students with traumatic brain injury (TBI), the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges they were already experiencing at school. Methods: This qualitative study employed focus groups and interviews with students, parents, school, and medical personnel to explore the school experiences of students with TBI. Thematic qualitative…

Background: This study describes the experience of implementing a screening, monitoring, and referral to treatment (SMARTT) initiative at an urban middle school school-based health center. Methods: Retrospective data were collected for adolescents screened with the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17-Y. At-risk adolescents having unmet health needs…

Background: Stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness and low mental health literacy have been identified as links to social adversity, and barriers to seeking and adhering to treatment among adolescents suffering from mental illness. Prior research has found that it is possible to improve these outcomes using school-based mental health…

Objective: Prior research identified 4 distinct dating trajectories from 6th to 12th grade: "Low," "Increasing," "High Middle School," and "Frequent." The purpose of this study was to examine whether 10th graders in the "Low" dating group differed on emotional, interpersonal, and adaptive skills…

Objectives: With optimized antiretroviral treatment youth living with HIV (YLH) now spend most of their time in schools, making schools an important venue to optimize outcomes. We evaluated school support for YLH. Methods: We conducted surveys with public secondary/high schools in 3 Kenyan counties (Nairobi, Homa Bay, and Kajiado) to determine…

Background: Concerns have been raised over teachers' mental health literacy in low-income countries and lower- and middle-income countries wherein pediatric mental health resources are limited. This study aims to investigate adolescent depression literacy among teachers in Eswatini and to explore the role of urbanicity. Methods: We conducted a…

Background: Food insecurity (FI) is a significant predictor of feelings of isolation in children, as well as suicide ideation and depression. Using a census of public middle school-aged children, we seek to determine whether FI is associated with suicide ideation and feelings of hopelessness and how individual and school community factors can…

Background: The Student Assistance Program (SAP) is mandated kindergarten to 12th grade in Pennsylvania schools to address barriers to student academic success. Following student referral, SAP teams use a systematic process to inform recommendations for school or community-based services. To evaluate program outcomes, a review of student SAP…

Background: Mental health literacy is important for awareness of mental illnesses in adolescence, which is the initial period of mental disorders. Determining the levels of mental health literacy guides studies in activities promoting mental health. This study aimed to determine the mental health literacy levels of high school students and…

Background: Low-income and racial/ethnic minority students often face distinct challenges in attending school leading to lower academic performance, low graduation rates, and overall, an indicator of diminished long-term social and financial stability. Chronic absenteeism is a national problem and to address this, a better understanding of risks…

Background: Bullying has been associated with many mental health problems. The effect of bullying has been found to be affected by the way students are involved in bullying. The purpose of the study was to explore the association between mental well-being, hopelessness, and being involved in bullying (as a bully, victim, or bully-victim), and to…

Background: The Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) is administered biennially to adolescents; it covers knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about risk and protective factors. Purpose: This study explored 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students' attitudes and beliefs about current trends regarding drugs, alcohol, and mental health. Methods: We asked…

Background: Concerns have been raised about the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of adolescents during an important developmental and social period in their lives. This study examines the mental health impact of the pandemic on high school students shortly after closure of public schools in spring 2020, and whether this…