Race and mental health referrals: the relationship between student demographics and likelihood of teacher referral for school-based mental health services
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Citation
Abstract
PURPOSE: Undiagnosed mental health disorders such as depression are increasing in prevalence. School staff serve as important gateway providers for students requiring mental health support, and understanding how teachers make decisions about referring students for mental health services in schools is critically important. Additionally, identifying how likelihood of referral for mental health services may differ given student demographics can provide insight on the support teachers need when making referrals for mental health services.
METHODS: The current study used a quantitative analytical approach combining the use of vignettes with an accompanying survey (n=100), to determine how teachers make decisions to refer students for school-based mental health services.
RESULTS: Results show that respondents self-identifying as White were significantly more likely to state their colleague would refer a student for mental health support as compared to teachers who identified as non-White. Further, teachers self-reporting higher levels of comfort with identifying symptoms of depression were significantly more likely to refer students for mental health support as compared to teachers who reported lower levels of comfort. Additionally, general education teachers were significantly less likely to refer students for school-based services when the student was not displaying symptoms of depression, as compared to non-general education teachers. There are no significant differences in likelihood of referral as a function of student race.
CONCLUSION: To address disparities in mental health support for students with diagnoses of depression, teachers require continued mental health literacy to identify the symptoms of depression and make referrals for school-based mental health services.