Contextual Features of Public Schools in the United States as Settings for Mental Health Promotion

Scanning the current policy and practice landscape of mental health promotion in the United States reveals indicators of significant progress in establishment of comprehensive school-based programs and services. At the same time, however, there remain significant challenges to advancing the SMH agenda. Using a conceptual lens, the authors elucidate fundamental political and practical dimensions of public education that must be addressed, including collaboration with stakeholders opposed to school mental health and partnering with teachers in mental health promotion. Concept mapping is introduced as a strategy to increase understanding about the role of school mental health in public education. Keywords: SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTHU.S. PUBLIC EDUCATIONSOCIO-POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF PUBLIC EDUCATIONPK-12 SCHOOLSPUBLIC SCHOOL CONTEXTUAL FEATURES