The School Nurse's Mental Health Triage Handbook: Evidence-Based Strategies for Assessment, Intervention, and Crisis Response

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.