Literature Review

Ja’Mya Wilburn

Misty Rhoads

PUBH 2800

31, January 2021

Outline

Topic: Teachers' perception of mental health in the school system

I. Statement of the Problem

Students encounter stressors for instance cyber and physical bullying; conflicts with teachers, parents, and siblings; and peer pressure that negatively affects their mental health. Teachers are the first individuals to detect mental challenges in a student due to changes in behavior, academic performance, and social interactions that the students tend to develop when facing mental challenges. Many teachers have a positive perception towards mental health in the school system as they believe mental challenges are unavoidable challenges that student’s face ,and it is only having the issues professionally resolved that would help the students to attain academic goals.

II: teachers are the first mental conditions identifiers

a. Students –teacher relationship is strong which makes it possible for the teacher to detect mental conditions in the behavior and attitude of the student

b. There are a lot of stressors that makes students to suffer from mental conditions for instance conflicts within and outside the school and over 60% of students are victims

III. mental conditions professionals within a school

a. The presence of a counselor within a school setting makes referrals easy where the teacher is also involved and this makes intervention procedure interactive and effective

b. Counsellors who are normally a part of the school helps teachers to also understand behaviors to be on the lookout for and the necessary steps to make t

IV. teachers are highly skilled

a. Teachers are close and directly involved with students hence they can extend mental health using the school system in place

b. The teachers are trained how to handle students hence they stand a good position to help and they appreciate doing so since they are committed to help students realize their potentials

V. How to detect poor mental health amongst students

a. Change in behavior from good to bad

b. Drop in academic performance without a good explanation which means that it is likely the student is facing mentally challenging situations.

VI. How teachers handle mental health in their classrooms

a. Building good relationships with students to create trust that the student can use to share their challenges with the teachers

b. Referring the students to school counselors to have the issue professionally addressed.

VII. Upgrading of school system and teachers training

a. Having a school system that teaching socio-emotional skills, conflict management, and problem solving among others can help improve students’ mental health

b. Upgrading teacher training from a psychology perspective would place teachers in a better position to handle mental conditions affecting a majority of students.

References

DeKruyf, L., Auger, R. W., & Trice-Black, S. (2013). The role of school counselors in meeting students’ mental health needs: Examining issues of professional identity. Professional School Counseling, 16(5), 2156759X0001600502.

Fazel, M., Hoagwood, K., Stephan, S., & Ford, T. (2014). Mental health interventions in schools in high-income countries. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(5), 377-387.

Franklin, C. G., Kim, J. S., Ryan, T. N., Kelly, M. S., & Montgomery, K. L. (2012). Teacher involvement in school mental health interventions: A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(5), 973-982.

Guerra Jr, F. R., Tiwari, A., Razo, N. P., & Vela, L. J. C. (2020). Teachers’ Knowledge, Perception, Sense of Self-efficacy and Role in Mental Health for Middle School Students. A Commitment to Teaching: Toward More Efficacious Teacher Preparation, 113.

Harrap, C. (2016). Primary school teachers and child mental health: developing knowledge and understanding (Doctoral dissertation, Cardiff University).

Kerbih, H., Abera, M., Abrha, H., & Frank, R. (2014). Perception and attitude of primary school teachers towards child mental health and school based mental health programs in jimma towm, south west Ethiopia, 2013 (Doctoral dissertation).

Larson, H., & Caldwell, N. (2020). Teachers' Perception of Mental Health in the School System. Journal of Counseling in Illinois, 8.

Whitley, J., Smith, J. D., & Vaillancourt, T. (2013). Promoting mental health literacy among educators: Critical in school-based prevention and intervention. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 28(1), 56-70.