WhySchool mental health training programs: effective for students, teachers, and school health staff

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent mental health is an increasing concern due to the high prevalence of mental disorders and low levels of mental health literacy (MHL). Enhancing MHL and promoting access to services during this critical developmental phase is essential. Teachers and other educational professionals are vital in addressing mental health issues, encouraging positive mental health, reducing the stigma associated with mental illness, and promoting help-seeking behaviors. METHODS: This study evaluates the WhySchool project, a mental health training program for teachers, school health professionals, and students in Portugal, consisting of two interventions. The first intervention was a prospective pre-post study for teachers and school health professionals who underwent training during 2015-2016 and 2018-2020, with three evaluation phases. The second intervention was a quasi-experimental study in 2019-2020 for students who received the intervention program in a classroom setting administered by previously trained teachers. RESULTS: The first intervention significantly improved teachers’ and school health professionals’ mental health literacy, help-seeking attitudes, stigma reduction, and confidence in referring students in case of need. These effects remained stable at the M2 follow-up. In the second intervention, MHL scores increased significantly in the intervention group, while the control group showed no significant change. Stigma reduction and help-seeking attitudes also improved significantly in the intervention group, with no significant change in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The WhySchool program significantly and positively impacted teachers’ and students’ mental health literacy, help-seeking attitudes, and stigma reduction. The results underscore the importance of incorporating mental health programs into school curricula and providing teachers and school staff with the necessary tools and knowledge to deliver these programs effectively.