The impact of mental health and wellness education on middle and high school aged children’s knowledge and comfortability of the topics: Head Health
Advisor(s)
Dr. Emily Eddy (e-eddy.1@onu.edu)
Dr. Michelle Musser (m-musser@onu.edu)
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; McIntosh Activities Room
Start Date
21-4-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
21-4-2023 10:50 AM
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to implement and examine the effects of providing mental health education and resources to middle and high school aged students. In 2021, nearly 20% of high school students seriously considered committing suicide, emphasizing the importance of incorporating conversations about mental health into students’ lives beginning at a young age. Public schools allow for an opportunity to reach all students in early adolescence and introduce them to topics pertaining to their mental health and wellness.
Methods included providing two presentations to 110 students in grades 7-12 as well as conducting pre/post-surveys. Topics included anxiety, depression, eating disorders, healthy relationships, and how to support others with their mental health. Students were also given access to a Google Drive folder containing various resources about mental health in various forms including: videos, infographics, podcasts, and others. The pre/post-surveys measured students’ knowledge, perceptions, comfortability, and stigma related to different mental health topics before and after any of the resources or presentations were provided to them.
Data collected from the pre/post-surveys are still under review. Conclusions are to be drawn at a future date once the data analysis is completed.
Key words: Mental health, students, middle school, high school, rural, education
Recommended Citation
Reprogle, Tatum and Summers, Emily, "The impact of mental health and wellness education on middle and high school aged children’s knowledge and comfortability of the topics: Head Health" (2023). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 28.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2023/posters/28
Restricted
Available to ONU community via local IP address and ONU login.
The impact of mental health and wellness education on middle and high school aged children’s knowledge and comfortability of the topics: Head Health
ONU McIntosh Center; McIntosh Activities Room
The purpose of this research is to implement and examine the effects of providing mental health education and resources to middle and high school aged students. In 2021, nearly 20% of high school students seriously considered committing suicide, emphasizing the importance of incorporating conversations about mental health into students’ lives beginning at a young age. Public schools allow for an opportunity to reach all students in early adolescence and introduce them to topics pertaining to their mental health and wellness.
Methods included providing two presentations to 110 students in grades 7-12 as well as conducting pre/post-surveys. Topics included anxiety, depression, eating disorders, healthy relationships, and how to support others with their mental health. Students were also given access to a Google Drive folder containing various resources about mental health in various forms including: videos, infographics, podcasts, and others. The pre/post-surveys measured students’ knowledge, perceptions, comfortability, and stigma related to different mental health topics before and after any of the resources or presentations were provided to them.
Data collected from the pre/post-surveys are still under review. Conclusions are to be drawn at a future date once the data analysis is completed.
Key words: Mental health, students, middle school, high school, rural, education