DOI

10.21007/con.dnp.2026.0139

Faculty Advisor

Laura Reed, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, FNAP

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

Spring 4-28-2026

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing | Patient Safety | Psychiatry and Psychology | Public Health Education and Promotion

Abstract

Purpose/Background

            Trends are consistently increasing among adolescents in regard to mental health diagnoses and suicide risks, which emphasizes the necessity for early identification via school-based psychiatric screenings. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) has proven effective in uncovering symptoms of depression; variable application and limited staff knowledge continue to be substantial hurdles. This scoping review examined the influence of staff education and training on the efficacy of school-based psychiatric screening.

Methods

            PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, Elsevier, Google Scholar, and JAMA were utilized to conduct this scoping review. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included if they involved adolescents aged 13-18, school-based psychiatric screening, and staff education or training. Titles, abstracts, and texts were screened by two reviewers using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligibility was met by twelve studies, which were then synthesized to assess results in their conviction of screening precision, mental health literacy, referral rates, and implementation obstacles.

           

Results

            Within the twelve studies, staff training steadily enhanced mental health literacy, confidence, and readiness to detect scholars with mental health troubles. Interventions were linked to boosted screening efficacy, decreased stigma, and heightened referral rates to psychiatric services. Results differentiated throughout locations, and constant barricades were distinguished such as resource limitations, time conflicts, varying administrative support, and oppositions with consistent follow-up care.

Implications for Nursing Practice

            Results concluded the significance of nurse-led staff instruction in improving school-based mental health programs. The coordination of referral pathways, promotion of regulated screening tools, and provision of educating are well within the scope of efficient nurses.  The integration of organizational support arranged with coordinated training interventions may augment early classification, boost access to care, and optimize psychiatric results for adolescents in school settings.

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