Primary prevention mental health programs for children and adolescents are effective

This paper summarizes outcome research on primary prevention mental health programs for children and adolescents to emphasize three points: (1) prevention has been successful; (2) participants change in several positive ways following intervention; and, (3) program impact is durable over time. Intervention can prevent child and adolescent problems. Changes in social policy are needed to integrate primary prevention into existing human service and public health systems.