Assessing Organizational Capacity for School Mental Health: Validation of the School Mental Health Capacity Instrument (SMHCI) in Chile

School mental health has gained increasing importance in educational systems, particularly in contexts characterized by high levels of psychosocial distress among students and persistent structural challenges in schools. This study aimed to validate the structure of the School Mental Health Capacity Instrument (SMHCI) in the Chilean educational context, providing a reliable tool for assessing schools’ organizational capacity to implement comprehensive mental health strategies An instrumental, cross-sectional design was employed with a purposive sample of 237 professionals from school-based psychosocial teams. A confirmatory factor analysis compared a unidimensional model with a three-factor model reflecting promotion and prevention, early detection and referral, and crisis intervention. The three-factor model showed a better fit to the data (RMSEA = .060, SRMR = .0536), with adequate internal consistency across dimensions (α = .82-.86). Two items displayed low factor loadings, suggesting the need for revision in future applications. The findings support the SMHCI as a valid instrument for identifying strengths and gaps in schools’ organizational readiness, offering an empirical foundation to guide technical assistance processes and institutional strengthening efforts in school mental health.