School-based mental health initiatives have gained increasing global attention as a means of promoting student well-being. However, as it stands, there is no comprehensive framework for expanding school-based therapeutic interventions in low-resource and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and contexts. This presentation attends to the existing research gap by synthesizing interdisciplinary evidence while providing an implementation guide that highlights school-based therapy as an educational adjustment system rather than a culmination of costly interventions. The presenters will explore case examples from diverse LMICs that have introduced school-based mental health initiatives, in conjunction with successful global intervention methods, to identify a culturally conscious method of expanding global mental health initiatives. Through a socio-ecological, neuroscience-backed framing of educational adjustment and outcomes as the primary targets of school-based therapeutic services, we will explore tiered therapeutic support that leverages the strengths of the school and local community. Ultimately, this paper serves as a theoretical contribution that reframes and builds on existing scholarship while tackling a critical gap in global care.

Authors:
Nyair Washington, Bowie State University, United States
Poonam McKnight, Bowie State University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Nyair Washington is currently a school-based therapist for Sheppard Pratt and a PhD student at Bowie State University

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nyair-washington/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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