O'Toole, Catriona
(2017)
Towards dynamic and
interdisciplinary frameworks
for school-based mental
health promotion.
Health Education, 117 (5).
pp. 452-468.
ISSN 0965-4283
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to scrutinise two ostensibly disparate approaches to school-based
mental health promotion and offer a conceptual foundation for considering possible synergies between them.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines current conceptualisations of child and youth
mental health and explores how these inform school-based prevention and intervention approaches.
The dominance of discrete, “expert-driven” psychosocial programmes as well as the potential of critical
pedagogy is explored using frameworks provided by contemporary dynamic systems theories.
These theories call for a situated and holistic understanding of children’s development; and they look
beyond static characteristics within individuals, to view well-being in relation to the dynamic social and
historical contexts in which children develop.
Findings – Psychosocial interventions and critical pedagogies have strengths but also a number of
limitations. Traditional psychosocial interventions teach important skill sets, but they take little account of
children’s dynamic socio-cultural contexts, nor acknowledge the broader inequalities that are frequently a
root cause of children’s distress. Critical pedagogies, in turn, are committed to social justice goals, but these
goals can be elusive or seem unworkable in practice. By bringing these seemingly disparate approaches into
conversation, it may be possible to harness their respective strengths, in ways that are faithful to the complex,
emergent nature of children’s development, as well as committed to correcting inequalities.
Originality/value – The current paper is unique in bringing together contemporary psychological theory
with critical pedagogy perspectives to explore the future of school-based mental health promotion.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Empowerment; Education; Multi-disciplinary; Dynamic; Children; School mental health; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Social Sciences > Education |
| Item ID: |
8611 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-11-2016-0058 |
| Depositing User: |
Catriona O'Toole
|
| Date Deposited: |
15 Aug 2017 16:24 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Health Education |
| Publisher: |
Emerald |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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