Evaluating the Efficacy of School Mental Health Promotion Program in Iranian Schools: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objectives Considering the importance of identifying the mental health problems among school students and their proper management by offering specialized services to them, the present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of school mental health (SMH) program in Iranian schools, identify its shortcomings and provide recommendations for it improvement. Methods This is a qualitative study using conventional content analysis method. A semi-structured in-depth interview was used to collect information from 35 participants who included teachers, principals, and developers of the SHM Program in Iran. Results Based on the results, four themes (strengths, weaknesses, barriers, and recommendations) and 14 subthemes were extracted. Overall, 50 codes were obtained. The results showed the effectiveness of the SMH program. Conclusion The SMH program is effective and has opened a new perspective to school-based interventions. However, expecting the full implementation and continuation of this program in the short term and with limited resources does not seem logical. Therefore, it is first recommended to improve the infrastructure for implementing this program, use trained personnel, upgrade the counseling departments of schools, and remove the time limit of teachers and legal limitations. Then, this project should be implemented at the national level for all schools in Iran.