Mental health and academic achievement: role of school nurses.
OBJECTIVE
This article discusses how school nurses promote mental health and subsequent academic achievement by screening and referral for children demonstrating mental health problems. Nursing interventions are discussed at the individual, systems, and community levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Mental health problems can affect school performance and academic achievement. When mental health problems are not recognized, students may be unable to reach their academic potential. School nurses are in a key position to provide interventions to address mental health and academic achievement.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of school nurses and examples of mental health collaborative activities are provided.
Puskar
Kathryn Rose
KR
Psychiatric CNS Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. krp12@pitt.edu
Bernardo
Lisa Marie
LM
D019090:Case Management; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003256:Community Participation; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004522:Educational Status; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008603:Mental Health; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012573:School Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013597:Systems Analysis