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A general practice initiative for detection and early intervention of mental health problems in a rural Australian secondary school
Anke Doley
General Practitioner, Australia
Colin Sibly
Department of Education, Australia
Chris Wigg
Clinical Psychologist
Peter Crawford
School Principal, Department of Education, Australia
Lindsey Cowper
Department of Education, Australia
Colleen Barker
Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide SA
Peter Gale
Division of Education, Arts, and Social Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide SA
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to review issues related to early intervention in mental health among adolescent students, and to specifically evaluate a school-based, early intervention program, which sought to address issues of mental health among students in a rural community in southern Australia.
The early intervention program began in 2004 as school counsellors and local health professionals sought to address the difficulties rural secondary school students encountered in accessing support services.
The paper seeks to explore the effectiveness of this school-based, early intervention for students, in decreasing the level of crises among students or the seriousness of associated outcomes to mental health issues, including dis-engagement from formal education.
Keywords
early intervention, adolescent mental health, rural health, education, sociology
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