Schools have a major contribution to make in the area of mental health and have a responsibility to develop programs of a positive nature which will provide favorable grounds for the emergence of mentally healthy individuals. Schools cannot prevent all emotional disorders, neither can they correct all those which come to them. Public opinion and the judgments of educators agree that the most significant results of education are the generalized learnings and attitudes that enable a person to attack his life problems more successfully, rather than the specific skills and information he receives. The quality of the school's influence for mental health is determined by the personal characteristics of the teachers. Psychosocial needs of children and positive teacher characteristics are discussed. Implications, including the need for concern toward teacher mental health are discussed. Guidelines for developing a school mental health program are presented. (Author/KJ)