A school-based mental health clinic for adolescent mothers.
OBJECTIVE
The Department of Mental Health Nursing at Oregon Health Sciences University mental health program at an alternative high school for teenage mothers and their children.


OBJECTIVE
To provide direct mental health services to approximately 50% of the student population. Mental health concerns apparent with this population of young mothers and their children include issues of violence and abuse, depression, developmental delay, and conduct disorder. This paper describes the successes and failures of this mental health program in hopes of helping other schools of nursing establish similar school-based mental health programs in their communities.


CONCLUSIONS
Teenage mothers need a safe haven where they can experience trust and acceptance. In the therapeutic atmosphere of this school-based program, young women were able to explore their feelings regarding past violence, learned to nurture their children, and gained an increased sense of self-efficacy.
Kendall
J
J
Peterson
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*