School-based community mental health intervention: Partnership and social work model Sasidharan M.B.1, Rajeev S.P.2, Joseph M.K.3,*, Josy Sukanya4 1President, Kanjoor Service Co-Operative Bank, Kanjoor, Kerala, India 2Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kochi, Kerala, India 3Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kochi, Kerala, India 4Research Scholar, Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kochi, Kerala, India *Corresponding Author emkay@rajagiri.edu
Online Published on 24 July, 2023. Abstract The World Health Organization (WHO) Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013– 2030 emphasises the need for community-based mental health interventions to enable all to achieve high mental health and well-being levels. Against this backdrop, this article reflects on a school-based social work intervention model for promoting community mental health. This intervention was carried out by a multisectoral tripartite partnership established within the WHO-recommended framework. A development agency (Kanjoor Service Co-operative Bank), an academic/research institution (Rajagiri College of Social Science, Kochi) and a civil society organisation (local school) were the partners involved in this intervention. The intervention was designed to solve the identified problems in the catchment community by addressing risk factors and promoting protective factors. This intervention ensured stakeholder collaboration to address the mental health problems of high school students. Knowledge sharing by academics enabled teachers to recognise, respond to and refer at-risk students. Further, the intervention upskilled parents to care for their and their children’s mental health. Information and awareness-building modules for students improved their mental health literacy, and the class-based group work sessions enabled them to provide mutual aid in combating mental health issues. The community campaigning against drug abuse also raised student awareness and initiated a sociopolitical change to reduce drug availability. In addition, counselling sessions and follow-ups helped students recover from mental health issues. Finally, the intervention facilitated seeking judicial remedy and government protection for domestic violence and child abuse victims. The fidelity of intervention was ensured through continuous evaluation. Top Keywords Community mental health, Social work intervention, School-based mental health intervention, Multisectoral partnership, Stakeholder collaboration. Top |