Unlocking the Potential of School-Based Mental Health Services
As a Special Education Director, you are constantly seeking innovative strategies to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of mental health services in schools. A recent study titled Effectiveness of a Brief Engagement, Problem-Solving, and Triage Strategy for High School Students: Results of a Randomized Study offers promising insights that could revolutionize how school mental health practitioners (SMHPs) operate.
The BRISC Approach: A Game Changer
The study introduces the Brief Intervention for School Clinicians (BRISC), a four-session strategy designed to streamline mental health services. Implemented across 49 high schools, BRISC focuses on engagement, problem-solving, and triage to improve service delivery. The results were striking: SMHPs using BRISC reported significantly higher treatment completion rates and student engagement compared to traditional services.
Key Findings
- Feasibility and Acceptability: SMHPs found BRISC to be a feasible and well-aligned strategy for addressing student needs.
- Efficiency: Students in the BRISC condition showed greater engagement and quicker completion of mental health treatment.
- Outcomes: Significant reductions in problem severity were reported, although no differences were found for anxiety or depression symptoms.
Implementing BRISC in Your School
For practitioners eager to improve their skills, adopting the BRISC approach can lead to more efficient and effective mental health services. Here are some steps to consider:
- Training: Ensure that your SMHPs receive comprehensive training in the BRISC methodology.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Use consistent assessments to inform the level and type of services needed.
- Problem-Solving Framework: Encourage students to identify and address their top problems through structured problem-solving sessions.
Encouraging Further Research
While the BRISC strategy shows great promise, more research is needed to fully understand its long-term impact on student mental health. Practitioners are encouraged to explore additional studies and contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting innovative mental health interventions in schools.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Effectiveness of a Brief Engagement, Problem-Solving, and Triage Strategy for High School Students: Results of a Randomized Study.
