Developing a model of a school preventative mental health programme for children and adolescents and the related potential of the psychotherapist's role

Abstract

The current state of mental health of Slovenian children and adolescents is worrying, and the existing sources of professional help and treatment insufficient and late. Experts from various fields recognize the potential of the educational system for actively promoting mental health and psychosocial assistance for children and adolescents. Existing school preventative mental health programmes for children and adolescents are effective and consequently useful as an alternative or supplement to the present conventional and insufficient health services, but they differ in organizational models, programme provider type, availability and quality. Clearly, there are certain barriers limiting this kind of support in schools that need to be overcome. In addition, well-conducted and properly supervised research is rare, and the methodological quality of estimates generally poor. Proposals based on previous research support this role of schools and the implementation of psychosocial content in the school curriculum, highlighting the potential role of the psychotherapeutic profession.