Grant: Operating Grant

Approximately 15% of Canadian children and adolescents (hereinafter called children) suffer from a mental disorder that adversely impacts their daily functioning at home, school, or within the community. Many of these children are exposed to socio-economic (SES) disadvantage and very few of them receive mental health services. Reducing SES inequalities in child mental health constitutes an important public health priority in Canada, and schools represent an ideal context for effective action. However, studies in Canada have yet to examine the extent to which schools affect mental health and its association with SES. The primary objective of our school mental health study (SMHS) is to examine the impact of schools on child mental health by: (1) estimating differences between schools in levels of student mental health problems; (2) identifying school-level variables that account for these differences; and (3) quantifying the extent to which schools mute the adverse effects of SES disadvantage on mental health. We will select 240 Ontario schools (180 elementary and 60 secondary) to participate. Students, teachers and principals will be asked to complete surveys of school climate, student mental health and school mental health programs and practices. Information will be collected from 26,496 students in grades 6-12 and 3,552 teachers and principals. Results will be shared with policymakers and stakeholders, who are collaborating with us on the study, and with the public, for purposes of informing the development of programs and policies in schools to benefit children in Ontario and beyond.