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Education in Mental Health

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Mental Health and Illness of Children and Adolescents

Part of the book series: Mental Health and Illness Worldwide ((MHIW))

Abstract

Health is a human right which is closely linked to education and learning. For the past 20 years, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)‘s work has made a stronger emphasis on education and learning in order to promote both physical and mental health worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has differentiated between health education and health promotion and defined the second as a more complex process that moves from an individual level toward a wide range of social and environmental interventions that increase knowledge and influence attitudes toward health. Mental health is contributed by a constant interactive relationship between the individual and their environment. In the shaping process of mental and emotional development during childhood and adolescence, education within the family, the school, and the whole community has a paramount influence. This chapter focuses on the importance of education in families, schools, and communities and gives examples of successful educational programs and initiatives across the globe. The potential role of education for reducing stigma in mental health and psychoeducation for improving outcomes in different mental health conditions is also discussed. Finally, current barriers for implementation of educational programs are highlighted. A better understanding and effective implementation of the successful approaches for promoting education in mental health seem of greatest importance at this stage.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, ReCognition Health, London, London, UK

    Maite Ferrin

  2. Haringey CAMHS, Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust, London, UK

    Maite Ferrin

  3. Brain and Behaviour Laboratory, University of Southampton, Southamptom, UK

    Maite Ferrin

Authors
  1. Maite Ferrin
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Correspondence to Maite Ferrin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. King’s College London, London, UK

    Eric Taylor

  2. Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    F. C. Verhulst

  3. National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    John Wong

  4. Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan

    Keiko Yoshida

  5. King's College London, London, UK

    Anula Nikapota

Section Editor information

  1. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK

    Eric Taylor

  2. Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore

    John CM Wong

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Ferrin, M. (2020). Education in Mental Health. In: Taylor, E., Verhulst, F., Wong, J., Yoshida, K., Nikapota, A. (eds) Mental Health and Illness of Children and Adolescents. Mental Health and Illness Worldwide. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0753-8_41-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0753-8_41-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0753-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-0753-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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