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Evaluating the effectiveness of a universal eHealth school-based prevention programme for depression and anxiety, and the moderating role of friendship network characteristics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2022

Jack L. Andrews Open the ORCID record for Jack L. Andrews [Opens in a new window] ,
Louise Birrell ,
Cath Chapman ,
Maree Teesson ,
Nicola Newton ,
Steve Allsop ,
Nyanda McBride ,
Leanne Hides ,
Gavin Andrews  and
Nick Olsen
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Jack L. Andrews*
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Louise Birrell
Affiliation:
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Cath Chapman
Affiliation:
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Maree Teesson
Affiliation:
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Nicola Newton
Affiliation:
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Steve Allsop
Affiliation:
National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Nyanda McBride
Affiliation:
National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
Leanne Hides
Affiliation:
University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Gavin Andrews
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Nick Olsen
Affiliation:
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Louise Mewton
Affiliation:
University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Tim Slade
Affiliation:
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Jack L. Andrews, E-mail: jack.andrews@unsw.edu.au
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Abstract

Background

Lifetime trajectories of mental ill-health are often established during adolescence. Effective interventions to prevent the emergence of mental health problems are needed. In the current study we assessed the efficacy of the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-informed Climate Schools universal eHealth preventive mental health programme, relative to a control. We also explored whether the intervention had differential effects on students with varying degrees of social connectedness.

Method

We evaluated the efficacy of the Climate Schools mental health programme (19 participating schools; average age at baseline was 13.6) v. a control group (18 participating schools; average age at baseline was 13.5) which formed part of a large cluster randomised controlled trial in Australian schools. Measures of internalising problems, depression and anxiety were collected at baseline, immediately following the intervention and at 6-, 12- and 18-months post intervention. Immediately following the intervention, 2539 students provided data on at least one outcome of interest (2065 students at 18 months post intervention).

Results

Compared to controls, we found evidence that the standalone mental health intervention improved knowledge of mental health, however there was no evidence that the intervention improved other mental health outcomes, relative to a control. Student's social connectedness did not influence intervention outcomes.

Conclusion

These results are consistent with recent findings that universal school-based, CBT-informed, preventive interventions for mental health have limited efficacy in improving symptoms of anxiety and depression when delivered alone. We highlight the potential for combined intervention approaches, and more targeted interventions, to better improve mental health outcomes.

Keywords

Adolescencemental healthpreventionrandomised controlled trialschool interventionsocial networks
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 53 , Issue 11 , August 2023 , pp. 5042 - 5051
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

Joint senior authors.

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