Identifying implementation strategies to address barriers to universal mental health screening implementation: An...

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• School Mental Health
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Universal mental health screening (UMHS) is crucial for identifying student needs within multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS).
• Numerous barriers hinder the adoption and effective implementation of UMHS in educational settings.
• Limited guidance exists on selecting appropriate implementation strategies to overcome specific UMHS barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate expert consensus on implementation strategies addressing key barriers to UMHS.
• To provide actionable recommendations for schools and districts aiming to implement UMHS.
• To inform the strategic application of implementation science in school mental health.

Main Methods:

• A two-round, modified Delphi survey methodology was employed.
• Three expert panels (school leaders, mental health practitioners, researchers; N=72) participated.
• Experts ranked strategies to address 14 identified UMHS barriers and provided qualitative feedback.

Main Results:

• Consensus was reached on 2-5 strategies per barrier (M=4.0) by the total expert sample.
• All expert groups agreed on at least one strategy for most barriers.
• Significant heterogeneity was observed in strategy recommendations across barriers and expert types.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a prioritized list of expert-recommended implementation strategies for UMHS.
• These strategies offer a practical foundation for addressing the implementation gap in school mental health.
• Findings can guide implementation teams and researchers in optimizing UMHS adoption and effectiveness.