MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT: - libdoc.who.int - World ...

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Once children with mental health conditions are in school, onsite mental health
programmes can provide services and help them stay engaged in the education
system. Schools with mental health programmes are also able to identify and support
other children with mental health problems, in addition to providing ongoing
services to those with severe mental health conditions.
More broadly, school-based mental health programmes provide a context where a
broader population of children may be reached easily and with minimal stigma. 109
A number of mental health promotion activities, such as anti-bullying, stressmanagement
and life skills development programs, can be delivered through
school-based programmes.
The impact of school-based mental-health programmes is broad and longterm.
They can prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions into
adulthood, and help ensure that the number of people completing education is
maximized. This leads to increased productivity and economic development for
society as a whole.
In addition to supporting school-based programmes, national development plans
and education sector plans can improve education and development outcomes
for vulnerable groups by supporting
early childhood programmes
that address the cognitive, sensory-motor
(physical), and
psycho-social development of
children, as well as child-parent
relationships. 198 These vulnerable
groups may include the children
of people with mental health conditions,
children living in poverty,
and children with developmental
delays. Multiple positive effects
of early childhood interventions
have been documented well into
adulthood, clearly indicating that
it is a major investment opportunity
for development. Figure 2
Children with mental health conditions need to be
supported to access education.
illustrates the ways in which early
childhood development influences
outcomes in adulthood.
The benefits of early childhood programmes have been documented for up to 27
years in high-income countries 200 and for up to 17 years in low- and middle-income
countries 201 (see Box 11 for additional information). Early childhood interventions
have been shown to improve children’s social skills, self-confidence, relationships
44 MentalHealthandDevelopment:Targetingpeoplewithmentalhealthconditionsasavulnerablegroup