A Comprehensive Scoping Review of School-Based Mental Health Nursing Interventions for the Early Identification and Management of Anxiety and Depression Among Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence represents a critical developmental period marked by heightened vulnerability to internalizing disorders, specifically anxiety and depression. Left unaddressed, these conditions significantly impair educational attainment, social relationships, and long-term functional trajectories. School nurses occupy a unique, strategically advantageous position within the educational ecosystem, serving as accessible healthcare providers capable of bridging the gap between undetected psychological distress and evidence-based mental health support. This review synthesizes existing literature surrounding school-based mental health nursing interventions focused on the early identification and management of anxiety and depression among adolescents.
Utilizing an integrative mapping approach, we synthesized evidence from primary studies published between 2012 and 2026. The findings illustrate that nurse-led interventions—primarily encompassing brief Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) modules, structured psychoeducation, mindfulness-based emotion regulation techniques, and universal screening protocols demonstrate significant efficacy in reducing symptom severity and mitigating physical manifestations of distress, such as somatic complaints.