Question 1

Identify the federal initiative that was the first to draw attention to the mental health needs of students.&#10;A) Education of All Handicapped Children Act&#10;B) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act&#10;C) President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health&#10;D) World Health Organization

Accepted Answer

B

Question 2

Observation of a child's emotional response to various activities, as well as what activities the child participates in throughout the day, best exemplifies which step of the occupational therapy process in school mental health?

A) Awareness
B) Assessment
C) Appraisal
D) Action

C

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

Which of the following approaches best reflects the contribution an occupational therapy practitioner can make when working with students with intensive mental health needs?&#10;A) Handwriting Without Tears&#10;B) In-depth counseling&#10;C) Medication recommendations&#10;D) Sensory processing evaluation and intervention

Accepted Answer

Sensory processing evaluation and intervention is the most appropriate approach for an occupational therapy practitioner when working with students with intensive mental health needs. Many students with mental health needs also have sensory processing challenges that can impact their ability to function in the classroom. Occupational therapy practitioners can provide evaluation and interventions to support sensory processing and improve the student's ability to engage in academic and social activities. Handwriting Without Tears and in-depth counseling may be beneficial for some students, but they do not address sensory processing challenges. Medication recommendations are outside the scope of practice for an occupational therapy practitioner.

Question 4

As an occupational therapy practitioner working in the schools, identify the most positive aspect of integrated services.&#10;A) They allow you to work with students in private rooms to cut down on distractions and interruptions.&#10;B) They allow you to work with students in their classrooms.&#10;C) They allow you to integrate private practice interventions with school-based interventions.&#10;D) They allow you to work in the natural contexts beyond the classroom that they engage in throughout the day.

Accepted Answer

Integrated services allow occupational therapy practitioners to work in the natural contexts beyond the classroom that students engage in throughout the day. This allows for more comprehensive and effective interventions by addressing the student's needs in all aspects of their daily activities.

Question 5

Which of the following most accurately reflects mental health in children and youth?&#10;A) Children with disabilities are at greater risk of experiencing mental health challenges than nondisabled peers.&#10;B) Positive mental health in children is reflected in good behavior in school.&#10;C) Mental health challenges are reflective of severe disorders.&#10;D) Technology increases mental health in children and youth.

Accepted Answer

Children with disabilities are at greater risk of experiencing mental health challenges than nondisabled peers. This is because they may face additional challenges and stressors that contribute to mental health challenges. Positive mental health is not only reflected in good behavior in school, as mental health encompasses a wide range of factors related to emotional, social, and cognitive wellbeing. Mental health challenges can range from mild to severe, and not all challenges necessarily indicate a severe disorder. There is no evidence to support the claim that technology increases mental health in children and youth; in fact, excessive technology use may contribute to mental health challenges.

Question 6

You are working with children in the school system and notice several have decreased social skills. Which of the following interventions has demonstrated the most effectiveness in promoting social competence?

A) Arts and crafts
B) Small group activities
C) Individual social skills training
D) Activities that utilize the students' character strengths and talents

Accepted Answer

Small group activities have been shown to be the most effective intervention for promoting social competence. This allows children to practice social skills in a safe and controlled environment with peers who may have similar struggles. Activities should be structured and guided by a facilitator who can provide feedback and support. While other interventions such as individual social skills training and activities that utilize character strengths and talents can be helpful, they are not as effective as small group activities in promoting overall social competence. Arts and crafts may have some benefits for promoting creativity and fine motor skills, but are not directly related to social competence.

Question 7

Which of the following is most reflective of a public health approach to school mental health?&#10;A) Teachers should address the mental health needs of students.&#10;B) School psychologists should address the mental health needs of students.&#10;C) All school personnel should address mental health needs of students.&#10;D) Parents should address the mental health needs of their children.

Accepted Answer

A public health approach to school mental health involves a multi-disciplinary and multi-level approach that involves all school personnel, including teachers, counselors, nurses, social workers, and even administrative staff in addressing the mental health needs of students. This approach recognizes that mental health is a community issue that cannot be addressed by one individual or profession alone. While school psychologists may have a role in providing counseling and support to students, a public health approach involves a broader framework of prevention, early intervention, and treatment that involves the entire school community. Similarly, while parents play a critical role in supporting their children's mental health, a public health approach recognizes that schools can also play a key role in promoting positive mental health outcomes for students.

Question 8

You are working with a child who has been demonstrating difficulty in activities that occur outside of the classroom. You want to gather information from the child's teacher to get a better understanding of the child's strengths and needs in activities that occur in nonacademic functional tasks. Which assessment would you choose?

A) School Function Assessment
B) Recess Environmental Scan
C) Cafeteria Environmental Scan
D) School Setting Interview

Accepted Answer

The School Function Assessment is specifically designed to assess a child's functional performance in school-related tasks and activities, including those outside of the classroom such as recess and lunch. It would provide a comprehensive picture of the child's strengths and needs in these areas and would help in developing appropriate interventions to improve their functional abilities. The other options, such as the Recess Environmental Scan, Cafeteria Environmental Scan, and School Setting Interview, may provide some useful information, but they would not provide a comprehensive or standardized assessment of the child's functional abilities.

Deck 50: Occupational Therapys Role in School Mental Health