Student Mental Health: A Guide For Teachers, School and District Leaders, School Psychologists and Nurses, Social Workers, Counselors, and Parents

by William Dikel MD

Overview

From ADHD to schizophrenia and everything in between, what you need to know about how kids’ mental health impacts them in school.

Twenty percent of children and adolescents have a mental health disorder and in five percent, the disorder is severe. Chances are that every classroom in America will have at least one student who has a mental health disorder, possibly even in the severe range. These students often have symptoms that interfere with their ability to learn. Educators are recognizing the importance of comprehensive approaches to student mental health.

William Dikel, MD, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, provides a comprehensive, educator-focused guide to student mental health. This practical book provides essential information on how mental health disorders are diagnosed and treated, how they tend to manifest at school, how they affect students’ emotions, behaviors, and ability to learn, and the types of interventions that are most successful. Educators will learn the importance of creating a district mental health plan that clearly defines the roles of teachers, mental health staff, administrators and others, with the goal of establishing a seamless system of coordinated professionals all working to meet students’ needs. The book profiles successful school-linked mental health programs that build bridges to community mental health services while maintaining legal and financial firewalls that protect school districts. This new edition contains additional topics including evidence-based teaching methods, school mental health law, mental health data practices, substance use, funding opportunities and school violence including school shootings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393714838
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	12/17/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	110,241
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

William Dikel, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist who consults with educators nationwide, in settings varying from general education classrooms to self-contained special education programs for severely emotionally disturbed students. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Preface: A Pandemic-Informed Perspective ix

Introduction to the Paperback Edition xvii

Acknowledgements xxv

Part I Overview of Children and Adolescents' Mental Health

Introduction: Why Schools Should Be Concerned with Students' Mental Health 3

Chapter 1 A General Introduction to Mental Health 10

Part II Types of Mental Health Disorders Affecting Children and Adolescents

Chapter 2 The Clinical-Behavioral Spectrum 25

Chapter 3 Mood Disorders 42

Chapter 4 Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 62

Chapter 5 Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 71

Chapter 6 Substance Use Disorders 87

Chapter 7 Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder 104

Chapter 8 Autism Spectrum Disorder 113

Chapter 9 Psychotic Disorders 119

Chapter 10 Violent Behaviors across the Spectrum of Mental Health Disorders 124

Part III The Diagnosis and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders

Chapter 11 The Professionals Who Diagnose and Treat Mental Health Disorders 131

Chapter 12 Comprehensive Mental Health Evaluations 138

Chapter 13 Overview of Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents 152

Chapter 14 Rational Use of Psychiatric Medications 158

Part IV School District and School Policies and Procedures

Chapter 15 The Roles of School Districts, Schools, and Staff 171

Chapter 16 The Roles of District and School Professionals 178

Chapter 17 The Relationship Between the School and Mental Health Professionals 194

Part V School Practices to Promote Learning

Chapter 18 Overview of the Ways Schools Are Meeting the Challenges Students' Mental Health 215

Chapter 19 General Education, Special Education, and 504 Plan Students 234

Chapter 20 Effective Teaching Strategies for Students with Emotional or Behavioral Problems 249

Chapter 21 Evidence-Based Educational Interventions for Students with Emotional or Behavioral Problems 288

Chapter 22 Conclusions and Recommendations 301

Appendices

Appendix 1 The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) 315

Appendix 2 Mental Health-Related Services on Individual Education Plans 319

Appendix 3 Special Education Evaluations of Students Who Abuse Drugs and Alcohol 327

References 337

Index 343

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Danielle Zazaian, DO MPH(Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services)
Description: This book guides professionals and parents on how to navigate student mental health issues. It is an update of The Teacher's Guide to Student Mental Health, Dikel (W.W. Norton, 2014) in order to reach a broader audience.
Purpose: The purpose is to address how to create supportive environments for students with mental health issues and provide information on the educational needs of these students. Understanding the needs of this population will allow for better educational outcomes. The book meets these objectives by offering structured and collaborative information to help readers better comprehend how to manage potential and ongoing mental health issues in students.
Audience: The book identifies its audience as educators, including but not limited to teachers, school and district leaders, school psychologists, school nurses, social workers, and counselors. Parents will benefit as advocates for their children, while physicians, community mental health workers, school attorneys, and child protective service agents will also find it helpful. The book was written by a physician with the help of several educators and student mental health advocates.
Features: This book gives an overview of various mental health issues that present in schools, from the management of violent behaviors to the diagnosis and treatment of other issues. It guides readers through DSM-5 criteria for common psychiatric disorders in students, addresses treatment strategies including psychotherapy, and teaches the basics of medication options. Additionally, it identifies policies, procedures, and evidence-based strategies to implement in schools to support students with mental health issues. Each chapter also leads readers in discussion and reflection questions.
Assessment: This book is easy to read, well organized, and informative. It is a significant addition to the limited resources on student mental health for mental health providers, parents, and educators as these issues are predominant and growing in society today. This book will be useful for addressing students struggling with mental health issues and equipping schools and parents with strategies on how to manage mental health concerns. Additionally, readers will gain a better understanding of basic mental health treatment modalities in order to respond to concerns and advocate for their students.

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