Do no harm: can school mental health interventions cause iatrogenic harm?

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Psychology
• Educational Interventions
• Mental Health Services Research

Background:

• Extensive efforts are underway in secondary schools for adolescent mental health.
• Current interventions aim to prevent, treat, and raise awareness of mental health issues.
• While beneficial for some, potential iatrogenic harm requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the potential for iatrogenic harm in school-based mental health interventions.
• To critically evaluate the impact of current adolescent mental health strategies in schools.
• To examine if certain interventions may exacerbate distress or clinical symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Review of quantitative research on school-based mental health interventions.
• Analysis of qualitative studies exploring adolescent experiences with interventions.
• Comparison of intervention outcomes against control activities.

Main Results:

• Quantitative data suggest some school mental health interventions increase distress or clinical symptoms.
• Qualitative findings indicate the interventions themselves may contribute to this harm.
• A subset of adolescents may experience negative effects from current approaches.

Conclusions:

• Current school-based mental health interventions require careful evaluation for unintended negative consequences.
• Further research is needed to identify and mitigate potential iatrogenic effects.
• A nuanced approach is necessary to ensure interventions support rather than harm adolescent mental well-being.