The Logic and Practice of the Prevention of Mental Disorders
Abstract
This chapter discusses the history and future of prevention of mental disorders. The history of successful prevention efforts includes important disorders such as scurvy, pellagra, delirium tremens, and general paresis. The three-tiered approach of the Institute of Medicine is used (universal, selective, and indicated prevention). Successful prevention programs for the entire range of mental and behavioral disorders are reviewed at the levels of the individual, small group, family, school, workplace, community, and society. Separate sections review programs to prevent depression, schizophrenia, and cognitive decline. The Internet provides new opportunities for disseminating interventions, and integration of social, genetic, and biological predictors of mental disorders will enhance preventive efforts in the future.
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Universal intervention approaches that include all students in a grade or school have advantages over targeted approaches, including potential for integration into the curriculum, broad positive impacts on school climate, avoiding stigmatization, and avoiding logistical barriers of screening.
“universal intervention approaches that include all students in a grade or school have several advantages (Mendelson et al., 2019). For instance, universal interventions have potential for integration into the curriculum and for broad, positive impacts on school climate. As they are more inclusive, universal approaches generally avoid stigmatizing specific students”
From Positive impacts of a universal trauma-informed intervention on student mental health: The Project POWER trial (2025) · cites this paper as Mendelson et al., 2019
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Mendelson, T., Clary, L. K., Musci, R. J., Sheridan, S., Webb, L., Sibinga, E., Mmari, K., Welna, A., & Ialongo, N. (2025) · Journal of School Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101469 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Mendelson, T., Pas, E. T., Lee-Winn, A. E., Bradshaw, C. P., Rebok, G. W., Leis, J. A., & Mandell, W.
- Venue
- Public Mental Health
- Publisher
- Oxford University PressNew York
- Published
- 2019-05-29
- Pages
- 489-548
- OpenAlex
- W4248321118
- Cited by
- 0
- References
- 37
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
- Keywords
- mental disorder prevention, history of prevention, universal prevention, selective prevention, indicated prevention, depression prevention, schizophrenia prevention, cognitive decline prevention, behavioral disorders, workplace mental health, school-based prevention, family-based prevention, community-based prevention, online intervention
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