A blueprint toward youth mental wellness: A whole-community approach to supporting our schools.

Abstract

Globally, 250 million children and adolescents experience mental health conditions. Many more go undiagnosed and untreated, and still others experience psychological distress that, while not rising to the level of a clinical diagnosis, impacts their future outcomes. While schools have been, and continue to be, central for youth well-being, the demand for mental health services and the broader recognition of the importance of youth mental health necessitates an integrated, whole-community approach that supports schools as a central, but not sole, hub. Thus, the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice's Safe and Humane Schools Task Force asserts that, to build a sustainable pathway to promote youth and ultimately community well-being, in addition to preventing future mental health crises, the meaningful involvement of community stakeholders is required. Subsequently, in this article, the Safe and Humane Schools Task Force puts forth a blueprint toward youth mental wellness. The blueprint draws on an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating evidence-based literature, lived experiences, and recommendations from diverse stakeholders, particularly youth. Specifically, the blueprint provides a model for identifying traditional and nontraditional stakeholders across socioecological levels. This blueprint then describes guiding principles for stakeholders to use as part of an interdisciplinary and child rights-based approach. The key themes of the principles are participation, collaboration, belonging and social connection, accountability, and safety and security. Innovative examples of how stakeholders have incorporated these principles to advance youth mental health promotion and crisis prevention are included. Potential barriers to, and facilitators for, the blueprint are addressed. Finally, a recommended series of questions is included to be used by stakeholders to adapt this blueprint according to local context. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).