Improving the effectiveness of mental health promotion programs aimed towards children and adolescents

There are many important determinants to mental health among children and adolescents, including parenting styles, the quality and quantity of friends, gender, sex, adequate sleep, socio economic status (SES), and obesity. These determinants are important because some may lead to maladaptive behaviors such as interpersonal violence, bullying, suicide, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and eating disorders. Effective interventions are needed to reduce the burden of mental health problems among children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to systematically analysis such interventions within the past 10 years, in order to make recommendations for future studies. A systematic analysis of PubMed, CINAHL, and ERIC was done for the time period from 2000 to 2010. A total of 10 interventions met the inclusion criteria. Interventions were typically implemented in the community setting, during school hours, and during after school program hours. Many were based on some type of behavioral theory or therapy such as cognitive behavior therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and enhancing problem-solving skills. The duration of for these interventions also greatly varied, as some were long-term programs lasting up to 2 years and others were brief interventions. Overall, these interventions were found to be effective for preventing the onset of mental issues and reducing the burden of current mental health issues. Limitations in program's methodology, design, implementation, outcome assessments, and ways to enhance effectiveness will be discussed.