Impact of a Mental Health Curriculum for High School Students on Knowledge and Stigma

Mental Disorders Clinical Trial

Official title:

Youth Mental Health Awareness Study and Early Intervention Research Project

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02561780
• Other study ID #: 2010011
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: September 18, 2015
• Last updated: September 24, 2015
• Start date: October 2011
• Est. completion date: September 2013

Study information

• Verified date: September 2015
• Source: University of Ottawa
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Canada: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study examines the effectiveness of a school based mental health literacy intervention for high school students, on improving mental health knowledge and reducing stigma. Twenty-four high schools in the regional area of Ottawa, Canada were randomly assigned to either the curriculum or control condition at a two to one ratio. The educational curriculum was integrated within grade 11 and 12 Provincial "Healthy Living" courses, delivered by teachers, and replaced existing educational content on mental health.

Description:

There is limited evidence and consensus on the effectiveness of school-based mental health educational programs, and no standardization for mental health education being taught in schools. This study examines the effectiveness of a school-based mental health literacy intervention for adolescents, on knowledge and stigma. A secondary objective was to determine the generalizability and applicability of an educational resource for mental health in high schools.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 534
• Est. completion date: September 2013
• Est. primary completion date: September 2013
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 14 Years to 19 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Students enrolled in the Healthy Living course of participating Ottawa area community high schools.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Students not enrolled in the Healthy Living course of participating Ottawa area community high schools.

• Students with an English reading and comprehension level lower than the sixth grade

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Subject)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Adolescents
• Comparative Effectiveness Research
• Early Intervention
• Education Curriculum
• Mental Disorders
• Psychotic Disorders

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Curriculum
A mental health educational resource delivered in the classroom by trained educators
• eLearning Follow-up
An online mental health education module that students access individually

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Ottawa

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Self-Report Knowledge of Mental Illness Scale	15 multiple choice questions about mental illness computed to provide a total score of mental health knowledge for each participant	Immediately following completed delivery of The Curriculum Guide	No
Primary	Self-Report Attitudes Towards Mental Illness Scale	A Likert scale of 8 statements about characteristics of individuals with mental illness computed to provide a total score of positive attitudes towards mental illness for each participant	Immediately following completed delivery of The Curriculum Guide	No