Improving school performance by improving mental health

The Spring 2012 edition of Better: Evidence-Based Education focuses on healthy bodies and healthy minds.  The topic for this edition was chosen because "physical and mental health can make a difference to student test scores . . . A host of simple evidence-based changes to the way we parent and school our children can boost their physical and mental health, which in turn will help them to learn."

Several of the articles discuss preventing youth substance abuse, a risk factor for school failure.  This edition of Better features Life Skills Training, an evidence-based curriculum that is taught at Eckstein Middle School (part of the Prevention WINS coalition); includes an article entitled, "Addressing school effects on drug use"; and provides information (from the University of Washington's Social Development Research Group) about how parents can help prevent problem behaviors.