Mental Health Initiatives and Leadership Approaches in Catholic Schools: Basis for Enhanced Management Policies

This study assessed the implementation of mental health initiatives and the manifestation of leadership approaches to inform enhanced management policies that strengthen school mental health programs. A quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was employed involving administrators and personnel from Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP)-member Catholic schools in Western Visayas. Data were collected using a validated researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The findings revealed a high level of implementation of mental health initiatives and a high manifestation of leadership approaches. Ethical and Values-Based Leadership emerged as the most highly manifested leadership approach, while Guidance and Counseling Services ranked highest among the mental health initiative domains. Leadership approaches demonstrated a significant positive relationship with the implementation of mental health initiatives, with Transformational Leadership exhibiting the strongest association. Selected administrator profile variables, including age, highest educational attainment, attendance at local seminars and trainings, and school awards and recognition, showed significant relationships with mental health initiatives. In contrast, school profile variables showed no significant relationships. The study concludes that effective multidimensional leadership is fundamental to strengthening school mental health initiatives and serves as the basis for the proposed Enhanced Management Policy to promote sustainable, holistic, and faith-centered mental health programs in Catholic schools.