Child and Adolescent Mental Health Screening, Evidence-Based Assessment, Intervention, and Health Promotion, 3rd Edition

The Problem This Book Solves

Rates of mental health disorders among children and adolescents have reached crisis levels, yet many healthcare professionals lack the confidence and tools to screen, assess, and intervene effectively. Child and adolescent mental health screening is often missed in primary care, leading to delayed treatment and worsening outcomes. This third edition of A Practical Guide to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Screening, Evidence-Based Assessment, Intervention, and Health Promotion directly addresses that gap by providing a step-by-step, evidence-based framework that any clinician can implement immediately.

Whether you are a nurse practitioner, pediatrician, psychologist, or social worker, this book equips you with the validated screening instruments, diagnostic criteria, and brief intervention protocols needed to identify and manage conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and trauma-related disorders in young patients. The problem is urgent; the solution is here.

What Is A Practical Guide to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Screening, Evidence-Based Assessment, Intervention, and Health Promotion? A Complete Overview

This comprehensive clinical resource is the definitive guide to integrating mental health care into routine pediatric and adolescent practice. Published by Springer Publishing Company in its third edition (2022), the book synthesizes the latest research on evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies, all organized for quick bedside or clinic reference.

The guide covers the full spectrum of care: from universal screening and risk assessment to diagnostic evaluation, brief therapeutic interventions, and long-term health promotion. It includes reproducible screening tools, medication management algorithms, and family engagement techniques. The content is aligned with the KySS (Keep your children/yourself Safe and Secure) program, a nationally recognized child and adolescent mental health fellowship that has trained thousands of practitioners.

Who Should Read This Book?

This book is designed for any healthcare professional who works with children and adolescents in primary care, school-based health, or specialty mental health settings. Primary audiences include:

• Pediatric nurse practitioners and family nurse practitioners
• Physician assistants and pediatricians
• Clinical psychologists and social workers
• School counselors and school nurses
• Psychiatric mental health nurses
• Graduate students in nursing, medicine, and psychology
• Any clinician seeking to expand their competence in adolescent mental health intervention

If you are preparing for certification in child and adolescent mental health or simply want to close the treatment gap in your practice, this guide is your essential companion.

7 Key Things You Will Learn

This book delivers actionable knowledge that you can apply from day one. Here are the core competencies you will master:

• How to conduct brief, evidence-based mental health screening for common disorders using validated tools such as the PHQ-9, SCARED, and Vanderbilt scales.
• How to differentiate between normal developmental variation and clinically significant symptoms using DSM-5 criteria and structured diagnostic interviews.
• How to implement brief therapeutic interventions—including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, motivational interviewing, and parent management training—in time-limited visits.
• How to prescribe and monitor psychotropic medications safely, with attention to age-specific dosing and side effects.
• How to promote mental health and resilience through lifestyle interventions, sleep hygiene, and school-based programs.
• How to collaborate with families, schools, and community resources to create a comprehensive care plan.
• How to use the KySS program framework to build a sustainable child and adolescent mental health practice within your organization.

Why This Book Outperforms Every Alternative

While there are many textbooks on child psychiatry, few are designed for the realities of busy primary care. Competitor resources often assume a specialty mental health setting or require hours of reading to find practical guidance. This guide stands apart because it is built around the clinical workflow: screening, assessment, intervention, and health promotion are presented in the order you actually use them.

Unlike general pediatric textbooks, this book dedicates entire chapters to brief evidence-based interventions that can be delivered in 15–20 minute visits. It also includes downloadable tools and handouts—something most competitors lack. The integration of the KySS fellowship curriculum ensures that the content is not only evidence-based but also field-tested by thousands of clinicians. No other single volume combines this level of practical utility with rigorous academic backing.

Author Authority & Publisher Credibility

Lead author Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, is a world-renowned expert in evidence-based practice and child and adolescent mental health. She is the Vice President for Health Promotion and Chief Wellness Officer at The Ohio State University and creator of the KySS program. Co-author Pamela Lusk, DNP, RN, PMHNP-BC, FAANP, is a clinical associate professor at the University of Arizona and a practicing psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with decades of experience. Together, they bring unmatched clinical and academic authority to this work.

Springer Publishing Company is a leading publisher of health sciences textbooks and professional references, known for rigorous peer review and commitment to evidence-based content. The third edition (2022) has been fully updated to reflect the latest DSM-5-TR changes, emerging research on telehealth interventions, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health.

Is This Book Worth It? Our Verdict

Unequivocally yes. For any clinician who wants to move beyond the frustration of feeling unprepared when a young patient presents with mental health concerns, this book provides the roadmap. It saves you time by delivering exactly what you need—screening tools, assessment algorithms, and intervention scripts—in a single, well-organized volume. The return on investment is measured in improved patient outcomes, reduced provider stress, and enhanced professional competence.

Compared to attending a single continuing education course, this guide offers a permanent reference that you can revisit as new cases arise. The third edition’s updates alone make it a worthwhile upgrade over previous versions. For graduate students, it serves as an ideal textbook for advanced practice psychiatric nursing or pediatric primary care courses.

Get Your Copy Today — Improve Outcomes for Every Child and Adolescent You Serve

Don’t let another young patient fall through the cracks. This practical, evidence-based guide gives you the confidence and skills to screen, assess, and intervene effectively. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a student, the third edition of A Practical Guide to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Screening, Evidence-Based Assessment, Intervention, and Health Promotion is the most efficient path to competence in this critical area.

Order your copy now from Springer Publishing Company and start making a difference in the lives of children and adolescents. Limited digital access options are available for immediate use. Invest in your practice and your patients today.