School-based interventions for the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental health problems: review of the literature

Abstract Given the elevated prevalence of mental health symptoms in school-aged children, there are opportunities to intervene with universal and targeted interventions delivered in schools. Considering the evidence across selected reviews, school-delivered mental health promotion and illness prevention interventions show to have small and modest effects in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. More research is required to find out what works best, for whom and under which circumstances.