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This paper describes the development and psychometric evaluation of a brief self‐report measure (BEACON) to inform universal mental health screening in schools. Items assess symptoms and impairment associated with anxiety and attention/hyperactivity problems (grades 4–11) as well as depression and eating difficulties (grades 6–11), with optional items for suicidality and self‐harm (grades 7–11). Initial item examination based on Item Response Theory (IRT) and classical test theory involved 3844 students in grades 4 through 11 (Study 1) and identified 18 items for grades 4–5 and 31 items for grades 6–11 that fulfilled pre‐set criteria. Study 2 extended testing with 10,479 students in grades 4–11 and added an additional four items assessing impairment associated with eating difficulties for older students (grades 6–11) creating a total of 35 items for grades 6–11. All items, for both grade‐level versions, met the pre‐set criteria for IRT and classical test theory analysis supporting their strength in the measurement of the dimensions of concern. The measure showed good reliability (subscale alphas.87 to.95). Validity was also demonstrated against standard symptom measures, school grades, school absenteeism, and help‐seeking. The BEACON appears to be a psychometrically sound measure to use in the first stage of school‐based screening for mental health problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Preadolescent social media use is normative and could influence mental health. This study investigated: (a) Differences between preadolescent users and non‐users of various social media platforms on mental health, (b) unique links between time spent on those platforms, appearance‐based activities on social media, and mental health, and (c) the moderating role of biological sex on those relationships. Method: Preadolescent youth (N = 528; 50.9% male) completed online surveys. Results: Users of YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat reported more body image concerns and eating pathology than non‐users, but did not differ on depressive symptoms or social anxiety. Appearance investment uniquely predicted depressive symptoms. Appearance comparisons uniquely predicted all aspects of mental health, with some associations stronger for females than males. Conclusions: Preadolescents could be encouraged to reduce their opportunities to make appearance comparisons and to invest less in their appearance on social media. Preadolescents may benefit from social media intervention programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives In order to assist mental health services in developing countries, a key issue is the availability of psychometrically sound, brief, and cost-effective measures that have been tested within the relevant context. The present study was designed to evaluate within a young Bangladeshi population, the psychometric properties of two widely used Western measures of internalizing distress in young people: the short form of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and the Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire. Method The sample included 1,360 children and adolescents aged 9-17 years ( M = 12.3 years, SD = 2.12) recruited from six districts of Bangladesh, including both community and emotionally at-risk participants. A total of 179 children were re-tested on the measures within 3-4 weeks. Results Confirmatory factor analyses showed single-factor structures for both scales in the total sample and in both community and at-risk participants separately. Multiple group analyses across gender and age-group within the at-risk and community samples showed that the single-factor structure was suitable regardless of subgroup. Analyses also indicated acceptable internal consistency, test-retest reliability and construct validity for both scales. Conclusion The two measures show promise as brief, reliable, and valid instruments for the assessment of internalizing distress among young people from Bangla-speaking communities. Practitioner points Positive clinical implications These two measures of internalizing distress in young people showed solid psychometric properties within samples collected from various parts of Bangladesh. The measures can therefore be used to assess anxiety and depression in Bangla-speaking youth., These measures should be of value in both clinical settings and at a community level to assess the need for services., Cautions and limitations Resource limitations did not allow comparison against diagnostic criteria and therefore cut-off scores to indicate clinical status among Bangladeshi youth will require further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional impairment is a key factor in the clinical importance of mental health problems in children. Yet, the nature of impairment and criteria for defining and assessing impairment in childhood disorders has been surprisingly overlooked in much of the literature. The current article examines the extant literature on the conceptualisation, nature and assessment of impairment in childhood disorders. Relations between diagnostic symptoms and functional impairment are discussed together with the influence of impairment on diagnostic decisions and prevalence rates. Several factors influencing impairment in childhood such as culture, development and gender are considered. This article concludes with a discussion of the utility of separating judgements of impairment from specific diagnoses, which is proposed for consideration in the forthcoming DSM-5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study examined the mental health literacy of a group of adolescents, with particular reference to their ability to recognize symptoms of depression in their peers. Respondents were 202 Australian adolescents (122 males, 80 females) aged 15–17 years. Their mental health literacy was examined through a questionnaire that presented them with five scenarios of young people. Respondents showed a mixed ability to correctly recognize and label depression, although they were able to differentiate depressed and non-depressed scenarios in terms of severity and expected recovery time. Results are discussed in light of findings from adult mental health literacy and clinical implications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]