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It is imperative that educators take a positive and preventive approach to support students and promote school safety. This article addresses the importance of identifying students who need additional mental health support and providing the highest quality support. These include best practices of emphasizing strength-based approaches, working with students and families as collaborators, integrating strategies into schools' multi-tiered systems of support, using data for decision making, implementing and refining evidence-based practices, and conducting ongoing evaluation. This article reviews specific examples of positive approaches to promoting student mental health funded by the National Institute of Justice Comprehensive School Safety Initiative. These real-world research initiatives provide examples of how multi-tiered systems of support for student mental health can serve as a mechanism to promote school safety.

Background: Non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) is a significant public health concern. Research and treatment interventions largely focus on stopping self‐injury. People who self‐injure do not necessarily equate recovery to cessation. Qualitative accounts allow greater understanding of personal recovery narratives. This study aimed to synthesise personal conceptualisations of NSSI recovery. Methods: Participants had lived experience of NSSI and discussed their recovery. Papers not written in English or had a quantitative design were excluded. Four databases (PsycInfo, CINAHL, Medline and Web of Science) were systematically searched. The quality of each paper was assessed using the CASP quality assessment tool. Data were synthesised using a meta‐ethnographic approach. Results: Thirteen studies comprising 159 participants were included. Three overarching themes were developed. While ceasing NSSI was an important aspect of recovery for some, recovery was typically viewed more holistically, encompassing developments within the self and relationships. Recovery was regarded an ongoing non‐linear journey. The personal and multifaceted nature of the recovery process emerged through a line of argument synthesis. Conclusions: This was the first qualitative synthesis of personal conceptualisations of NSSI recovery. The findings highlighted the personal and multifaceted nature of NSSI recovery and supported person‐centred models of self‐injury recovery. Clinical implications include the importance of expanding self‐injury recovery beyond cessation within research and clinical practice, and for collaborative and person‐centred approaches to be embraced when supporting those who self‐injure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Therapeutic alliance has been found to play an influential role in predicting outcomes for adults and adolescents in psychotherapy. However, thus far, the information concerning the impact of therapeutic alliance on outcomes for adolescents in treatment for substance misuse has not yet been critically synthesised. Methods: In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, the current review aimed to systematically collate published research investigating the association between alliance and outcomes for adolescents undergoing substance misuse treatment. Database searching produced 1083 records, with 16 studies meeting eligibility criteria. Results: Twelve out of the 16 studies (75%) reported significant alliance–outcome relationships, whereby higher alliance ratings predicted better treatment outcomes, as well as improved engagement and retention in treatment. In addition, the review explored the conditions whereby alliances better predict outcomes, with reference to the alliance rater, the timing of the alliance rating and comorbid diagnoses. These results, however, largely remain inconclusive. Conclusions: The evidence as it stands demonstrates the importance of the therapeutic alliance in predicting outcomes for adolescents in substance misuse treatments. The implications of the review's findings and recommendations for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Self-harm is a prevalent behaviour that has a major detrimental impact on a person's life. Psychological therapies have the potential to help, but evidence of effective interventions remains limited. Access and acceptability of interventions can also be a significant challenge, with individuals either being unable to access help or having to endure long waiting lists. Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) is a time-limited and relationally-focused psychotherapy that may provide a valuable treatment option for people who self-harm. This protocol outlines the methodology for the first feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) of CAT for adults that self-harm. The trial will aim to determine the feasibility, acceptability and safety of undertaking larger-scale evaluations of CAT for self-harm within an RCT context. Method: An RCT design with 1:1 allocation to CAT plus treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Participants will be adult outpatients with three or more instances of self-harm in the past year (target sample of n = 60). CAT will be 8 one-to-one weekly 60-min sessions plus a follow-up session up to 8 weeks after the last session. Assessments will occur at baseline, 12 weeks and 18 weeks after randomisation. Qualitative interviews with participants will gain insights into the feasibility and acceptability of CAT. Feasibility outcomes will be judged against progression criteria. Discussion: CAT may be an effective and accessible treatment option for people who self-harm, providing a more relationally orientated alternative to more behavioural therapies. The proposed feasibility RCT is an important first step in evaluating CAT as a treatment for self-harm. Trial registration: The trial was pre-registered (21/10/22) on ISR CTN (ISRCTN code: ISRCTN75661422). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe an experimental investigation of the development of children's knowledge stmctures which aims to provide data for connectionist modelling. 167 children between 5 and 11 years of age completed two category fluency tasks where they were asked to produce as many names of a) animals and b) parts of the body, as they could in one minute. Similarity scores were derived based on distances between concepts in the lists produced. These were analysed using the ADDtree algorithm (Sattath & Tversky, 1977) to build structures representing the organisation of the children's knowledge of animals and body parts. The results showed that animal knowledge was generally organised in terms of environmental context/habitat, however, there was evidence for subtle changes in knowledge organisation between age groups. More pronounced changes were observed in the organisation of knowledge of body parts which gave some support to the assertion that children progress from making coarser to making fmer distinctions between concepts (see Keil, 1979) and reflected the progression observed in knowledge structure development in a connectionist model of semantic memory discussed by McClelland, McNaughton and O'Reilly (1995). Our aim is to extend this work to provide data enabling connectionist modelling of semantic memory within a developmental framework.

Background: Young people's mental health is a significant concern globally. The evidence suggests that there is a strong relationship between therapeutic alliance and children's reported outcomes such as symptoms and dropout of services. There are indications that therapist characteristics – including static qualities and dynamic behaviours – can be associated with both alliance and outcomes. Method: The aim of this review was to systematically collate, summarise and critique studies reporting on therapist characteristics that might influence the therapeutic alliance or outcomes for young people accessing child and adolescent mental health services. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis guidelines were followed, and four databases (PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, MEDLINE and CINAHL) were searched for 'therapist' and 'characteristic' combined with 'alliance' or 'outcome' and related terms associated with these topics. Results: A review of 15 papers showed that therapists' in‐session behaviours and interpersonal style have a significant impact on alliance or outcome. One study also indicated important associations with attachment style. Findings related to ethnicity, gender and level of experience were complex; highlighting differences between subgroups, ages, outcome measurement and diagnostic categories. Methodological issues such as secondary analysis on administrative data confounded the interpretation of results. Conclusions: There are indications that specific therapist factors can impact on alliance and outcomes in child and adolescent mental health services. Future research needs to adopt a prospective design and measure therapist characteristics and their relationship to alliance or outcome over time in a broad range of settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisexual people demonstrate higher rates of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in comparison to other groups. This study aimed to explore bisexual people's experiences of sexuality, NSSI and the COVID19 pandemic. Fifteen bisexual people (16–25 years old) with experience of NSSI participated in online qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis was used. Preliminary findings were shared with a subset of participants for member-checking. Participants described experiences of falling between the binary worlds of heterosexuality and homosexuality and described discrimination and invalidation related to this. Lack of access to positive bisexual representation contributed to feelings of self-loathing, with NSSI used to manage emotions or self-punish. The effect of lockdown was not clear cut, depending on personal circumstances and meanings of social interaction for participants. There is a need for greater recognition of significant societal narratives around bisexuality within clinical formulations of mental health difficulties and NSSI within this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]