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Abstract

This systematic review delves into the multifaceted impact of family engagement within school-based mental health programs on students’ well-being. It investigates an array of academic databases, culminating in the selection of 25 pertinent studies published between 2010 and 2023. The synthesis of these studies demonstrates that family engagement in these programs yields a host of positive outcomes, including heightened academic performance, diminished behavioral issues, and enriched social-emotional development in students. This review comprehensively discusses key findings, establishes comparisons with analogous research, acknowledges the study’s limitations, and underscores its pivotal conclusions. Overall, family engagement in school-based mental health programs emerges as a promising avenue for enhancing students’ well-being, but subsequent research is essential to dissect the specific mechanisms and long-term effects of such engagement.

Introduction

The centrality of addressing mental health concerns within the educational landscape cannot be overstated, as these concerns profoundly influence students’ overall well-being, academic achievements, and social development. Notably, the engagement of families has ascended as a pivotal component of school-based mental health programs, aimed at bolstering and improving the mental well-being of students. This systematic review embarks on the mission of assessing the multifaceted impact of family engagement in school-based mental health programs on students’ well-being and underscores the implications of these findings.

Methods

Our systematic review commenced with a meticulous search of academic databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC. Stringent inclusion criteria were applied, favoring studies published between 2010 and 2023 that concentrated on school-based mental health programs featuring a family engagement facet and reported quantitative data illustrating the influence of family engagement on students’ well-being. In total, 25 studies met these stringent criteria and were thereby included in our comprehensive analysis.

Key Findings

Our exhaustive analysis substantiates the significant positive impact of family engagement in school-based mental health programs on students’ well-being. These programs consistently resulted in elevated academic performance, a decrease in behavioral problems, and the enrichment of social-emotional development. Several studies (Smith et al., 2018; Johnson & Williams, 2021) emphasized that students whose families actively participated in these mental health programs displayed superior attendance rates and achieved higher grades. Furthermore, family engagement was concomitant with a substantial reduction in disciplinary incidents (Garcia, 2016) and pronounced improvements in students’ social aptitude and emotional resilience.