Roots for Life Project: Strengthening Mental Health in School Communities

This pilot study aims to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of a mental health literacy (MHL) intervention directed at teachers and parents in primary schools (grades 3-5) located in socially vulnerable communities in Chile and Ecuador. The ultimate goal is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children through enhanced recognition, prevention, and response to mental health needs in school and family environments.

Background and Rationale

Child mental health is a key determinant of overall wellbeing in adulthood. In Latin America, mental disorders among children and adolescents account for a significant disease burden, yet more than 70% of affected children receive no specialized care. Schools are often the first setting where emotional and behavioral problems are detected, but teachers and families frequently lack the necessary knowledge to identify mental health issues or to access appropriate support networks.

Mental health literacy-defined as knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders that aid their recognition, management, or prevention-has proven effective in promoting early detection, help-seeking, and stigma reduction. However, most MHL programs have targeted adolescents, with few focused on primary education or on low- and middle-income countries. This project seeks to fill that gap by implementing and adapting an evidence-informed MHL program for educators and parents in both Chile and Ecuador.

The intervention builds upon the previous FONIS Project SA21I0143, which demonstrated that teacher-focused MHL workshops improved mental health knowledge, reduced depressive symptoms, and lowered burnout.

Study Design

This is a quasi-experimental pilot study with intervention and control schools in both countries. The intervention will be implemented in seven primary schools: five in Chile (Valparaíso, Achao, and Curaco de Vélez) and two in Ecuador (Daule). Randomization will occur at the school level within each locality.

Approximately 230 children (ages 8-11 years) and their parents and teachers will participate. Data will be collected pre- and post-intervention, combining quantitative and qualitative methods.

Intervention

Teacher Program:

Six 2-hour group sessions (12 hours total).

Interactive and experiential methodology: discussion of cases, videos, role-play, and reflective activities.

Topics include: self-care and networks, child development, anxiety and depression, suicide spectrum, ADHD and behavioral disorders, autism spectrum disorder, and child maltreatment.

Parent/Guardian Program:

Three 90-minute workshops.

Topics: stigma and social support, healthy development, warning signs, and emotional containment.

Conducted in schools using participatory and culturally adapted approaches.

Data Collection and Analysis

Baseline data will be collected in April 2025, followed by post-intervention assessment in the second semester of 2025. Quantitative data will be analyzed using paired comparisons and effect size estimation (Cohen's d). Mediation and moderation analyses will explore the roles of family, school, and neighborhood factors. Qualitative data from focus groups with parents and teachers will be thematically analyzed to assess feasibility and contextual factors.

Expected Impact

This pilot will provide foundational evidence on the feasibility, cultural adaptation, and preliminary effectiveness of a community-based MHL program in Latin American primary schools. Expected benefits include:

Improved mental health literacy among parents and teachers.

Early identification and referral of children with emotional or behavioral problems.

Reduced stigma and enhanced school-family collaboration.

Development of a scalable, intersectoral model for child mental health promotion aligned with WHO/PAHO priorities.

Results will inform a future cluster randomized trial and the potential regional expansion of the Roots for Life Project