Date on Paper
7-2021
Document Type
Doctoral Paper
Degree Name
D.N.P.
Department
Nursing
Committee Chair
Bethel-Jaiteh, Cynethia
Committee Member
Clark, Rudy
Author's Keywords
cognitive behavioral therapy; CBT; COPE; school-based therapy; virtual education; pediatrics
Abstract
Background: When mental health issues are left untreated in children, there is an increased risk for poor school performance, substance abuse, and missing essential experiences in life. School-based cognitive-behavioral therapy programs improve negative emotions, increase student positive experiences, increase coping skills knowledge, and provide adequate resources for effective mental health management of symptoms. School-based -behavioral therapy programs improve childhood mental health outcomes and promote coping skills utilization amongst pediatric populations.
Purpose: To implement Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) a cognitive behavioral therapy program in a private school-based setting to assist children in obtaining optimal mental health outcomes.
Methods: Seven virtual sessions via Zoom utilizing student manuals, online modules, and PowerPoint integrated into the existing assembly class time. The educational sessions included information about mental health, increasing positive mental health behaviors, coping skills, reducing negative thoughts, problem solving, and communication. A pre/post-test design was selected to explore the relationship between increased COPE knowledge/ coping skill utilization and achievement of mental health goals at baseline and 4-week follow-up.
Results: COPE knowledge increased for 70% of participants at follow-up. The mean COPE knowledge score amongst participants (n=10) at preintervention and post-intervention were 2.5 and 3.5, respectively. Coping skill utilization increased for 60% of participants' follow-up. The mean coping skill utilization score at preintervention and post-intervention were 3.0 and 3.10 respectively. All the participants indicated they met their initial mental health goal at follow-up.
Discussion: There is enough evidence to conclude that school-based cognitive behavioral therapy programs such as COPE improve childhood mental health outcomes. The results did reveal increased cope knowledge, coping skill utilization, new coping skill identification, and mental health goal attainment.
Recommended Citation
Flippin, Carlatesha, "Effectiveness of an evidence based cognitive behavioral therapy program (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment [COPE]) to improve childhood mental health outcomes in a private school." (2021). Doctor of Nursing Practice Papers. Paper 113.
Retrieved from https://ir.library.louisville.edu/dnp/113
