Early findings of a nurse‐led youth activist program in mind caring. Issue 5 (15th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aekwarangkoon, Saifon; LeClair, Jessica; Oakley, Linda Denise
• Is Part Of: Public health nursing. Volume 39:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 993
• Page End: 999
• Publication Date: 2022-04-15
• Subjects: collaborative action research -- mental health -- mind caring -- screening -- stigma; Public health nursing -- Periodicals; 610.734
• DOI: 10.1111/phn.13078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0737-1209

Abstract

Abstract: Background: : School‐based youth activist programs in mind caring have been shown to support the mental health and learning needs of adolescent students. Methods: : We used collaborative action research methods to implement a nurse‐led mind caring youth activist program for a rural, extended opportunity school in Thailand. The participants ( N = 67) were the public health nurse assigned to the school, students willing to become youth activists ( n = 42), school teachers and staff ( n = 7), university psychiatric mental health nursing faculty ( n = 2), and volunteer nursing students ( n = 16). Qualitative thematic analyses methods were used to explore the transcripts of the participant's reflection circles and confirmatory interviews for evidence of effective program implementation. Results: : Major themes of change and growth were identified. Youth activists students said mind caring improved their mental health. Teachers described having a more positive attitude towards students' mental health and learning needs. Nursing students found optimistic confidence and self‐awareness in the hands‐on experience with the complex role responsibilities in public health nursing. Conclusion: : These results provide early evidence of stakeholder satisfaction with the implementation of a school‐based youth activist program as collaborative action for organizational change.