G. Rumay Alexander is a leader working to transform nursing education and address systemic racism within the nursing profession and the health care system more broadly. At the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, Alexander serves as clinical professor at the School of Nursing and assistant dean for relational excellence at the Adams…

In this thought leader commentary, we review the potential devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people, including trauma, impacts on mental health, socioemotional distress, and changes in academic learning. Stating that 4-H is uniquely positioned to mitigate these effects through intentional positive youth development efforts, we…

A public health crisis is looming in US schools. Millions of children do not receive mental health services, are poorly bonded to supportive educational communities, and fail to develop important social and emotional competencies. Considering these problems, many of which relate to students' school functioning, efforts are needed to support…

The article by Lahey (May-June 2009) provided a timely and important review of a growing body of evidence linking the personality trait of neuroticism to a host of health and psychosocial outcomes with public health significance. Lahey (2009) highlighted the links between high neuroticism and mental health, physical health, and quality of life and…

This commentary highlights indigenous public health research from a special issue of the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction dealing with child maltreatment, mental health, substance abuse and gambling. We focus on the emerging and growing research movement in Indigenous research through three important themes: 1) worldview and…

Stresses that health psychology should (1) adopt a community or public health perspective, rather than an individual disease or individual treatment model, and (2) focus on prevention, rather than on curative services. (Author/GC)

Presents commentary in response to the main articles of this target issue. Notes that the issues discussed are generalizable to the many disciplines that operate within educational and mental health systems. Reacts to the papers' two major themes, discusses realities that should be addressed for progress to be made, and comments on their…

Takes three presentations from American Public Health Association meeting as point of departure from which to consider how health maintenance organizations (HMOs) organize and deliver mental health services to members. Recommends that HMOs work toward parity in coverage of mental and medical conditions, just as they do not discriminate in coverage…

Recent changes in federal policy and the proliferation of empirically based interventions (EBIs) designed to prevent problems and promote student academic and behavioral success have created an unprecedented opportunity for schools to expand their use of comprehensive strategies to meet the academic and behavioral health needs of all students. The…

Three revolutions in the history of mental health were identified by Nicholas Hobbs: the humane revolution, the scientific and therapeutic revolution, and the public health revolution. The shift of responsibilities for mental health and substance abuse services from the public to the private sector may constitute a fourth mental health revolution.…

Presents commentary in response to the main articles of this target issue. Argues that the bigger picture that makes it essential to rethink school psychology must be derived from broader policy, practice, and research frameworks. Therefore, the authors seek to reflect on and push beyond the overall message conveyed by the three papers. (GCP)

Examines the effects of physical activity on depression and anxiety, discussing the scientific strength of studies on physical activity, depression, and anxiety against the standards of science accepted in epidemiology with a focus on the independence, consistency, dose-response gradient, and biological plausibility of the evidence. (Author/SM)

Reviews the history of primary prevention in public and mental health, with special focus on the prevention of emotional problems in children. Emphasizes the need to approach prevention efforts from understanding causes of mental illness in the context of general social conditions, rather than from an individual perspective. (Author/MJL)

Presents commentary in response to the main articles of this target issue. Suggests that the recommendations of the authors are unrealistic for school psychology, given practical resource limitations. Or conversely, perhaps the recommendations speak to a needed role that is not currently being filled, which school psychologists are better prepared…

Presents a response to commentaries regarding the main articles of this target issue. Suggests a model for school psychology research and practice that positions the discipline for leadership on the transactions that coexist among educational, cognitive, and developmental processes and mental health interventions. (Contains 11 references.) (GCP)