Stakeholders' perspectives on the recommendations of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to understand stakeholder perspectives on school mental health and the mental health system as they relate to the goals identified by the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.


METHODS
A total of 11 focus groups were held in Maryland, Ohio, and New Mexico with groups of parents, youths, school- and community-based providers and staff, and child and school mental health advocates and leaders. Across the three sites, 105 individuals participated in the focus groups.


RESULTS
The stakeholders provided several important recommendations to advance the field of mental health. They included addressing stigma, implementing culturally competent care, providing mental health training to school staff, and increasing collaboration between community providers.


CONCLUSIONS
Obtaining the views of key stakeholders is critical to transforming the mental health system and expanding the focus on mental health in schools.
Cunningham
Dana
D
Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 737 W. Lombard St., Rm. 426, Baltimore, MD 21201, UAS. dcunning@psych.umaryland.edu
Stephan
Sharon Hoover
SH
Paternite
Carl
C
Schan
Steve
S
Weist
Mark
M
Adelsheim
Steven
S
Flaspohler
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D026683:Advisory Committees; D002648:Child; D017144:Focus Groups; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012574:Schools; D014481:United States