Child and Adolescent Mental Health Literacy for Primary Schools Teachers. A Multicomponent Intervention

Plain-language summary

Child mental health (CMH) is crucial for lifelong well-being. Early prevention and intervention are vital for public health, yet Chile faces a high prevalence of CMH issues, particularly in children aged 4 to 11. Schools play a key role in addressing these problems, but there's a lack of coordination within the systems (Schools and Health Centers). This project aims to enhance children's mental health and the school community through a biopsychosocial approach, emphasizing social support. The intervention consists of two parts: 1. Developing an online CMH literacy program for primary school teachers in Public Educational Establishments (EEPs). It's designed through collaboration with stakeholders, focusing on the specific needs of participating schools. 2. Enhancing the coordination of the CMH network in Valparaíso, involving community, health, and education stakeholders in two neighborhoods. This will be done by using "ECO Barrio Solidario" program and aligning it with local health initiatives. The project spans two years and focuses on four EEPs in Valparaíso. In the first year, the literacy intervention is constructed in partnership with each school, including program objectives, methodology, and scope. An online platform with educational videos will be created. The "ECO-Barrio Network" will connect with local agencies involved in child MH. In the second year, the intervention will be implemented in four of the eight recruited schools, while the other four serve as a control group. Subsequently, the remaining four schools will receive the intervention. Evaluation will consider acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness, assessing faculty CMH knowledge, timely research, and reduced wait times for healthcare and child protection services.

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