Transform Your School Health Office Into a Mental Health Support Center
School nurses face an unprecedented mental health crisis. With 1 in 5 students experiencing mental health challenges, you're increasingly the first professional to recognize warning signs-yet most nursing programs provide minimal mental health training for school settings.
This comprehensive handbook bridges that critical gap.
Inside, discover evidence-based protocols specifically designed for school nurses managing mental health concerns within real-world constraints-limited time, complex legal requirements, and diverse student populations.
Master Essential Assessment Skills:
ASQ suicide screening protocols adapted for ages 8-18
PHQ-9 and GAD-7 administration in 5-minute health office visits
Elementary behavior observation checklists
Crisis triage decision trees for immediate response
Cultural competency considerations for diverse populations
Navigate Complex Situations With Confidence:
FERPA vs. HIPAA guidelines for school-based mental health
Mandatory reporting requirements and documentation standards
Parent communication scripts for difficult conversations
Re-integration planning after psychiatric hospitalization
Confidentiality management across age groups
Build Your Complete Crisis Response System:
Panic attack intervention protocols
Self-harm discovery and safety planning procedures
Aggressive behavior de-escalation techniques
Eating disorder recognition in school settings
Early psychosis identification markers
Create Sustainable Support Networks:
12-week resource database implementation plan
Insurance navigation guidance for families
Community partnership development strategies
Professional collaboration protocols
Digital resource recommendations
Each chapter provides step-by-step protocols tested in real school environments, addressing the unique challenges of supporting student mental health within educational settings.
Stop feeling overwhelmed by mental health situations. Start building systematic, evidence-based responses that protect students while supporting your professional practice.
Perfect for school nurses, health office staff, nursing students preparing for school placements, and administrators developing mental health support systems.
Buy The School Nurse's Mental Health Triage Handbook: Evidence-Based Strategies for Assessment, Intervention, and Crisis Response by Patsy Diamond Waller from Australia's Online Independent Bookstore, BooksDirect.