CHAPTER: Challenges and opportunities in promoting well-being and addressing violence through schools
Abstract
As a major socialization force in children’s lives, schools are a critical context in which to support the development of positive mental well-being in all students and address issues of aggression and violence. In this chapter, we consider the many pathways through which this can be achieved, including the promotion of mental health literacy, early identification of mental and behavioral difficulties, encouragement of help-seeking, and creation of safe and accepting learning environments in which all students can thrive. Most importantly, we argue for addressing mental health and school violence through the promotion of social and emotional learning (SEL) in schools, providing students with the competencies needed to address social and emotional needs in constructive and nonviolent ways. To this end, we introduce the SEL Resource Finder, a newly developed website that serves as a virtual clearinghouse for educators on information and cost-effective approaches to addressing school violence and fostering positive mental health.
Child and Adolescent Well-being and Violence Prevention in Schools, 2017
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