Mental Health Prevention in Schools: A Theoretical Framework for Educational Practice in Bavaria

Dos Santos Gomes, Dr. Luiz André und Gelder, Irina Maria (2025): Mental Health Prevention in Schools: A Theoretical Framework for Educational Practice in Bavaria. Graduate Thesis, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of mental health disorders among children and adolescents presents a growing challenge for educational systems. Schools are not only sites of learning but also key environments for prevention, early detection, and support. This paper develops a theoretical framework for mental health prevention in schools, with a specific focus on the Bavarian educational context. Drawing on the vulnerability–stress model, resilience theory, and a biopsychosocial understanding of health, it examines the development and chronicity of mental illnesses in childhood and adolescence. The paper outlines primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies and discusses universal, selective, and indicated approaches within school settings. Particular attention is given to the role of teachers as central actors in promoting mental well-being, identifying early warning signs, and collaborating with psychosocial and medical support systems. By integrating current empirical findings, legal frameworks, and exemplary prevention programs, the paper highlights the potential of schools to foster resilience, reduce stigma, and contribute to educational equity through sustained and systematic mental health prevention.

• Item Type: LMU Munich: Thesis
• Keywords: Mental health prevention; School-based prevention; Resilience; Vulnerability–stress model; Teacher education
• Faculties: Psychology and Education Science > Department Education and Rehabilitation > Div. 3: Prevention, Integration and Rehabilitation Research > Education for people with intellectual disabilities and Education for people with emotional and behavioral disorders
• Institut or Department: Department Pädagogik und Rehabilitation
• Subjects: 300 Social sciences > 360 Social problems and social services; 300 Social sciences > 370 Education
• Annotation: Gemeinsam überarbeitete Version der ursprünglichen als Prüfungsarbeit eingereichten Zulassungsarbeit