title: Family intervention sessions: one useful way to improve schoolchildren's mental health.
abstract: This study examines the effectiveness of therapeutic conversations with families (through family sessions) in alleviating health complaints among adolescent girls in a school setting. Four girls with recurrent, subjective health complaints and their families were included in the study. Three sessions were held with each family, using genograms, ecomaps, interventive questions, and other family nursing interventions; practicing school nurses were also present. A therapeutic letter was sent to each family at the end of the sessions. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used as a pre- and posttest measure. Evaluative interviews were carried out with the families and with school nurses. The families reported feeling relief and described positive affective, behavioral, and cognitive changes as a consequence of the interventions. The school nurses experienced the family sessions as time-saving and easy-to-use tools in their work. Involving the family when schoolchildren's recurrent mental health problems are addressed may reduce future suffering.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Society, University College of Kristianstad, Sweden. eva.clausson@hkr.se
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clausson
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005192:Family Health; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D015397:Program Evaluation; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012573:School Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013598:Systems Theory