‘Little Helping Things’: 5‐ to 8‐Year‐Olds Imagine How Elementary Schools Could Support Student Mental Health

Abstract

Background: Children's mental health is a global issue of concern, and schools are a key site for identifying and supporting children's mental health needs. Children are active agents in their mental health. Their unique perspectives offer valuable insights that can inform how their schools can support the mental health of their students. There is a lack of research exploring the views of young children. This study sought to explore the views of elementary school‐aged children (aged 5–8 years) regarding how they imagine elementary schools could support student mental health. This study was conducted in Victoria, Australia. We undertook 17 semi‐structured interviews with children aged betw..