TREATMENT OUTCOME OF SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICES FOR URBAN TEENAGERS

This pilot study assessed the treatment outcome of mental health servi ces for high school students enrolled in a school-based health clinic in Baltimore. Compared to students receiving no mental health treatmen t (n = 34), treated students (n = 39) showed improvements in self-conc ept and decreased depression scores following the receipt of individua l therapy services (augmented for some students with group therapy). W hile depression scores decreased for the treatment group, they actuall y increased for students in the comparison group. Students in the trea tment group also showed nonsignificant decreases in anger and anxiety. Implications for the future development of school-based mental health services are discussed.