Chapter 12
Tier 2 Intervention for Students
with Internalizing Symptoms
Minglee Yong and Boon Ooi Lee
Abstract Students in secondary schools face increased vulnerability for devel-
oping internalizing symptoms such as feelings of anxiety, sadness, and hopeless-
ness, as well as social withdrawal and somatic complaints. These symptoms are
associated with reduced engagement in school, interpersonal problems, and possibly
other serious mental health issues. To support students with internalizing symptoms,
schools can play an important role in early identification and intervention. The multi-
tier system of support is described as the recommended framework for providing a
continuum of services for students with internalizing symptoms. At the Tier 1 level,
schools can implement a universal social–emotional learning curriculum to equip
all students with foundational skills in emotion regulation, perspective-taking, self-
management, and problem-solving. At the Tier 2 level, intervention programmes
can provide additional support for students screened to be at-risk of developing
more serious internalizing symptoms. These programmes aim to alleviate symptoms
and prevent further deterioration of functioning. Tier 2 interventions are currently
less widespread. The goals of this chapter are to identify treatment components and
features of effective school-based Tier 2 programs for students with internalizing
symptoms and to provide specific recommendations for integrating programmes
into multitier system of support in schools. The effective implementation of Tier
2 programmes will address diverse needs of students and help them achieve more
positive social–emotional outcomes.
Keywords Internalizing symptoms · Multitier system · Tier 2 · Social–emotional
learning · School-based intervention · Depression · Anxiety · Mental health ·
Secondary prevention · Evidence-based · Models of intervention
M. Yong (B ) · B. O. Lee
National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
e-mail: minglee.yong@nie.edu.sg
B. O. Lee
e-mail: boonooi.lee@nie.edu.sg
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020
C. Koh (ed.), Diversifying Learner Experience,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9861-6_12
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