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Published in: Trials 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Study protocol

A school-based health promotion programme to increase help-seeking for substance use and mental health problems: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Authors: Dan I. Lubman, Bonita J. Berridge, Fiona Blee, Anthony F. Jorm, Coralie J. Wilson, Nicholas B. Allen, Lisa McKay-Brown, Jenny Proimos, Ali Cheetham, Rory Wolfe

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Adolescence is a high-risk time for the development of mental health and substance use problems. However, fewer than one in four 16–24 year-olds with a current disorder access health services, with those experiencing a substance use disorder being the least likely to seek professional help. Research indicates that young people are keeping their problems to themselves or alternatively, turning to peers or trusted adults in their lives for help. These help-seeking preferences highlight the need to build the mental health literacy of adolescents, to ensure that they know when and how to assist themselves and their peers to access support. The MAKINGtheLINK intervention aims to introduce these skills to adolescents within a classroom environment.

Methods/design

This is a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) with schools as clusters and individual students as participants from 22 secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. Schools will be randomly assigned to either the MAKINGtheLINK intervention group or the waitlist control group. All students will complete a self-report questionnaire at baseline, immediately post intervention and 6 and 12 months post baseline. The primary outcome to be assessed is increased help-seeking behaviour (from both formal and informal sources) for alcohol and mental health issues, measured at 12 months post baseline.

Discussion

The findings from this research will provide evidence on the effectiveness of the MAKINGtheLINK intervention for teaching school students how to overcome prominent barriers associated with seeking help, as well as how to effectively support their peers. If deemed effective, the MAKINGtheLINK programme will be the first evidence-informed resource that is able to address critical gaps in the knowledge and behaviour of adolescents in relation to help-seeking. It could, therefore, be a valuable resource that could be readily implemented by classroom teachers.

Trial registration

Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): ACTRN12613000235​707. Registered on 27 February 2013.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
A school-based health promotion programme to increase help-seeking for substance use and mental health problems: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors
Dan I. Lubman
Bonita J. Berridge
Fiona Blee
Anthony F. Jorm
Coralie J. Wilson
Nicholas B. Allen
Lisa McKay-Brown
Jenny Proimos
Ali Cheetham
Rory Wolfe
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-016-1510-2

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