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

University of Ottawa

Status: Completed

Conditions: Adolescents; Mental Disorders; Education Curriculum; Comparative Effectiveness Research; Early Intervention

Treatments: Behavioral: eLearning Follow-up; Behavioral: Curriculum

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02561780

2010011

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 534 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 14 to 19 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

534 participants in 3 patient groups

Curriculum

Active Comparator group

Description:

The curriculum is a mental health literacy resource designed to inform high school curricula and contains six distinct modules: 1) stigma of mental illness; 2) understanding mental health and mental illness; 3) information on specific mental illnesses; 4) experiences of mental illness; 5) seeking help and finding support; and 6) the importance of positive mental health. A research assistant trained teachers on The Curriculum Guide content in a half-day session. Teachers implemented The Curriculum Guide, which requires approximately 6 hours of classroom time, during regular instruction of the Healthy Living course.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Curriculum

Curriculum +eLearning Follow-up

Active Comparator group

Description:

The curriculum is a mental health literacy resource designed to inform high school curricula and contains six distinct modules: 1) stigma of mental illness; 2) understanding mental health and mental illness; 3) information on specific mental illnesses; 4) experiences of mental illness; 5) seeking help and finding support; and 6) the importance of positive mental health. A research assistant trained teachers on The Curriculum Guide content in a half-day session. Teachers implemented The Curriculum Guide, which requires approximately 6 hours of classroom time, during regular instruction of the Healthy Living course. Students are asked to complete follow-up modules online. These modules are only accessible after completion of the Healthy Living course.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Curriculum

Behavioral: eLearning Follow-up

Teaching As Usual (Control)

No Intervention group

Description:

Schools randomized to this arm of the study received the unadulterated Healthy Living course, taught as usual.