Can school nurses identify mental health needs early and provide effective advice and support?

Abstract

Aim: This article aims to explore and analyse primary research regarding the role of the school nurse in providing care for children and young people with mental health needs. Background: Children and young people have unique mental health needs that can affect their emotional, educational and physical development. Early identification and support for mental health needs are advocated to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. There are few UK-based primary research papers that address what role the school nurse may have in providing mental health care. Methods: A database search was conducted to identify research papers that discuss ‘school nurse’, ‘mental health’ with ‘children and young people’. Eight UK-based papers were identified, on which a thematic analysis was carried out. Results: Four themes were identified as important indicators for school nurses working with children and young people with mental health needs: help seeking preferences of children and young people, training and support needs of school nurses, service provision and capacity, and wider socio-economic determinants. Conclusions: School nurses can be effective when working with children and young people with mental health needs. As specialist public health nurses their primary area of work should be on the promotion of good mental health and the early identification and support for those who have poor mental health. To ensure effective support is given school nurses require further post-graduate training and regular supervision from a mental health specialist. However, workload structures would need to be managed to allow school nurses to be more visible and accessible within schools in order to build effective and trusting relationships. Implications for practice: As the public health role of the school nurse begins to encompass mental health needs it will be increasingly important to reflect upon collaborative working practices to deliver care, which meets the need of children and young people. This may include the use of modern technology, a work schedule that allows for needs to be met year round and improved communication and discussion between health, education and social care professionals.