Feasibility of a secondary school-based mental health intervention: Reprezents’ On The Level

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Research

Christine Cox¹  Shane Carey¹  Jilly Gibson Miller²  Natalie Bisal²  Liat Levita³ 

[1] Reprezent Youth Development Organization, London, UK;University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK;University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK;University of Sussex, Sussex, UK;

关键词: Adolescents;    Secondary schools;    Interactive digital mental health intervention;    Cognitive behavioural framework;    Feasibility;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13034-022-00534-2

 received in 2022-09-04, accepted in 2022-11-19,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

AimsThere is a need for innovative school-based mental health interventions to promote good mental health, healthy coping strategies, and engagement with support services. Consequently, Reprezent, a youth development organization, with mental health professionals and young people co-developed an online mental health intervention show, On The Level (OTL). This study assessed the acceptability and feasibility of delivering OTL to young people (aged 11–18 years) in 36 secondary schools across London and Essex, UK.MethodsOTL was delivered online as part of the school curriculum, in classrooms at timepoint 1 (T1, 50 min). Follow-up data was collected at timepoint 2 (T2) 4–6 weeks later, during a 20-min OTL review show. For interactive OTL elements and data collection participants logged into an online survey. Measures of acceptability and engagement, mental health and well-being outcomes and intervention evaluation were taken at T1 and T2. We also assessed the feasibility of implementing the OTL intervention in secondary schools.Results10,315 participants received the intervention (T1) and 3369 attended the follow-up session (T2), this high attrition, and potential selection bias, was due to only 30% of schools being able to take part in T2. Rates of acceptability were high among young people and school staff. At T1, 88% foundOTL engaging, and 84% felt more confident they had the tools to help them better manage stress and anxiety. At T2, 66% viewed mental health in a more positive way, and 71% had better understanding of how to maintain good mental health. Rates of engagement with mental health tools and services were good, and significant reduction in levels of stress were found 4–6 weeks after the OTL show (T2). The low mental health and well-being indices reported by the school children at baseline strongly support the need and use for a mental health intervention such as OTL in secondary schools.ConclusionThese findings indicated good feasibility and acceptability of OTL intervention and support the delivery of the OTL mental health intervention at UK-based secondary schools to educate young people about mental health and well-being and give them the necessary tools to support their mental health.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022

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