An overview of the research on school-based prevention intervention and treatment for mental health disorders and substance abuse as well as policy recommendations for moving forward successfully with future directions in school-based mental health services.

Electronic reproduction. External link. "August 2009". http://www.excellenceforchildandyouth.ca/sites/default/files/position_sbmh.pdf.

Executive summary for policy makers -- Executive summary for practitioners -- Executive summary for researchers -- Introduction: Mental health in children and youth; Defining mental health; Defining school-based mental health; The importance of school-based mental health -- Purpose and scope for the school-based mental health policy paper -- Policy consultation process -- Current state of the knowledge: Major models for conceptualizing school-based mental health: Mental health spectrum model; Interconnected systems model; Social-emotional learning model; Public health perspective model; Comment -- Evidence-based programs: What constitutes evidence? -- Existing compendia of empirically supported programs; Results of key empirical reviews and synthesis papers -- Bridging research and practice in school-based mental health: Effective knowledge mobilization -- Program and strategic selection; Program implementation, adoption and uptake issues -- Current state of practice in school-based mental health in Ontario: Rationale for the school-based mental health practice scan -- Methods -- Key findings: Responsibility for student mental health in Ontario school districts; Extent of student mental health concerns; District response to student mental health concerns; Practices and programs around Ontario; Enablers and barriers to implementation; Policy and practice recommendations from the field -- Discusssion -- School-based mental health practice scan summary. Conclusions and recommendations for school-based mental health in Ontario -- References -- Appendix 1: Effective school-based mental health programs.