School-based mental health services

We have made a new poster for schools on low mood, supported by the Bank Workers Charity. Please download, print and put up or email to staff and students. Do let us know whether you find it useful. It is free for anyone to use and can be found here: Schools low mood poster

I am very interested in how mental health services can better reach and help children and adolescents attending school as the evidence shows that only a minority of those who could benefit from accessing services are actually seen.  As part of this we are conducting the OxWell Student Survey for students in years 4 to 13. Schools can sign up here. The information sheets for parents can be found here: OPS parent.  Pupils can find out some more information on the survey here: Pupil information slides.  School information is available here: Letter for parents. Berkshire information is here: Parent Info and Schools info. Further information on the Ethics and Information Governance. Video link for students.  Webinar for schools on the survey. Wellbeing Survey Slides For Schools link. We have completed a survey of Educational Mental Health Practitioners about the work that they have doing in schools (April – June 2020). The final report is available here to download: MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN SCHOOLS IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19- Summary Report; the infographic to download or see infographic and a link to a short video clip of the results. The OxWell2021_SummaryReport_ report is here. Our youth advisors worked with TikTok influencers to get the findings shared with younger populations and example of one of these is here; we also posted on instagram as can be seen here and here and also made three posters to share with the participating schools- on OxWell 2021 top findings; injection fears and sleep difficulties A short film was also made by the Oxford Vaccine Group and shared on numerous different social media platforms including twitter; it can also be seen on this YouTube link.

I have previously worked in a school-based mental health service for refugee children in Oxford and was funded by the NIHR to develop a psychological toolbox for school staff working with refugee children.

I am currently working with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, the local CCG  and the Oxford CLAHRC to develop and evaluate school-based mental health services in the region. This work will be continuing as part of the Oxford ARC. For example, Oxfordshire secondary schools now have Child and Adolescent Mental Health workers providing an InReach mental health service for all for all young people attending these schools. We are also evaluating the impact of changing child mental health services across the region (CAMHS transformation) in a project where we are using both qualitative interviews with CAMHS staff, parents, young people as well as analysing service data to work out whether these changes have improved access to services.

In 2019 we have run an Online Pupil Survey as part of the iSAM project for the MRC Pathfinder Oxford Award and are very grateful for the many schools and over 4000 Oxfordshire school students who have completed this health and well-being survey over the last few months.  The information sheet for this survey is here.

Please contact me directly if you would like to learn more about this exciting work.

Relevant publications:

  • S Rocks, M Fazel, A Tsiachristas, M Fazel. The impact of transforming Mental Health Services for young people in England on patient access, resource use and health: a quasi-experimental study BMJ Open 2020;10:e034067. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034067 article; pdf
  • J Lopez-Lopez, A Kwong, R Pearson; K Tilling, M Fazel, L Washbrook, J Kidger, G Hammerton. Trajectories of depressive symptoms and adult educational and employment outcomes. BMJ Open 2020 6(1), E6. doi:10.1192/bjo.2019.90 article; pdf
  • * M Fazel, B Kohrt. Prevention vs Intervention in School Mental Health. Lancet Psychiatry 20196(12):969-971 article; pdf
  • D Horwood, J Baker, M Fazel, S Rees, L Heslop, D Silove. School Factors Related to the Emotional Wellbeing And Resettlement Outcomes of Students From Refugee Backgrounds: Protocol For A Systematic Review. Systematic Reviews 2019;8:107 article; pdf
  • T King, M Fazel. Examining the mental health outcomes of peer-led school-based interventions on young people aged between 4 and 18 years old: A systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews 2019; 8:104 article; pdf
  • S Rocks, M Stepney, M Glogowska, M Fazel, A Tsiachristas. Understanding and Evaluating new models of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in South-East England: A study protocol BMJ Open 2018;8: e024230 article
  • *M Noroozi, I Singh, M Fazel. Evaluation of the minimum age for consent to mental health treatment with the minimum age of criminal responsibility in children and adolescents: a global comparison Evidence-Based Mental Health 2018;21:82-86 article; pdf
  • E Soneson, J Childs-Fegredo, J Anderson, J Stochl , M Fazel, T Ford, A Humphries, P Jones, E Howarth. Acceptability of screening for mental health difficulties in primary schools: a survey of UK parents BMC Public Health 2018;18:1404 article; pdf
  • Lancet Psychiatry webpage for series on school-based mental health interventions (all free to download: editorial, podcast and 2 Review papers): http://www.thelancet.com/series/mental-health-interventions-schools
  • M Fazel, V Patel, S Thomas, W Tol. School-based mental health interventions in low and middle-income countries. Lancet Psychiatry 2014; 1: 388-98 article; pdf
  • M Fazel, K Hoagwood, S Stephan, T Ford. School-based mental health interventions in high-income countries. Lancet Psychiatry 2014; 1: 377-87 article; pdf
  • R. Tyrer, M Fazel. School and community-based interventions for refugee and asylum seeking children: A Systematic Review PLoS ONE 9(2):e89359. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089359  article; pdf; figure
  • M Cortina, M Fazel, T Hunglawi, M Cortina Borja, S Tollman, K Kahn, A Stein. Childhood psychological problems in school settings in rural Southern Africa. PLOS One 2013; 8(6): e65041. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065041 article; pdf
  • M Fazel, H Doll, A Stein. A school-based mental health intervention for refugee  children: an exploratory study Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2009, 14(2): 297-  309  abstract; pdf
  • M Cortina, K Kahn, M Fazel, T Hlungwani, Tollman S, Bhana A, Prothrow-Stith D, Stein A. School-based interventions can play a critical role in enhancing children’s development and health in the developing world Child: Care, Health and Development 2008;34: 1-3  article; pdf

Other

  • Rapid Response to Bring in Universal Health Checks in Schools BMJ 2013 347:f5478

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