The effectiveness of a "EspaiJove.net"- a school-based intervention programme in increasing mental health knowledge, help seeking and reducing stigma attitudes in the adolescent population: a cluster randomised controlled trial

Identifier:  imarina:9290736

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9290736

Authors:  Casanas, Rocio; Castellvi, Pere; Gil, Juan-Jose; Torres-Torres, Maria; Baron, Jesica; Teixido, Merce; Maria Sampietro, Hernan; Diez, Marta; Fernandez, Raul; Sorli, Raquel; Sinol, Patricia; Jurado, Francisca; Carreras-Salvador, Regina; Vazquez, Davinia; Gonzalez, Sandra; Isabel Fernandez-San Martin, Maria; Raya-Tena, Antonia; Alvarez, Rosa; Amado-Rodriguez, Isaac; Miguel Martin-Lopez, Luis; Alonso, Jordi; Lalucat-Jo, Lluis

Abstract:
Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of the universal mental health literacy intervention "EspaiJove.net " in increasing mental health knowledge, help seeking and reducing stigma attitudes in the adolescent population. We also examine whether these effects depend on the intervention intensity. Methods: A clustered school-based randomised controlled trial (cRCT) design. Subjects: 1,298 secondary pupils aged 13 and 14 were recruited from 18 schools in Barcelona (Spain) between September 2016 and January 2018. Intervention: Three programmes were assessed: 1) Sensitivity Programme (SP; 1 h); 2) Mental Health Literacy (MHL; 6 h); 3) MHL plus a first-person Stigma Reduction Programme (MHL + SR; 7 h); 4) Control group (CG): waiting list. Outcome measures: 1) MHL: EspaiJove.net EMHL Test (First part and Second Part); 2) Stigma: RIBS and CAMI; 3) Help-seeking and use of treatment: GHSQ. Analysis: The data was collected at baseline, post-intervention and 6 and 12 months later. An intention-to-treat analysis and imputation method was used to analyse the missing data. Intervention effects were analysed using multilevel modelling. Results: One thousand thirty-two students were included (SP = 225; MHL = 261; MHL + SR = 295 and CG = 251). The MHL and MHL + SR interventions showed short- and long-term an increase in knowledge compared to SP and CG, but no significant change post-intervention or over time (First part p = 0.52 and Second part p = 0.62) between intervention groups and CG. No significant changes were found in stigma scores post-intervention or over time (CAMI p = 0.61 and RIBS p = 0.98) or in help-seeking scores (parent p = 0.69; teacher p = 0.23 and healthcare professional p = 0.75). The MHL + SR intervention was the best valued and recommended (p < 0.005). Conclusions: The three interventions of the EspaiJove.net programme (SP, MHL and MHL + SR) seem not to be effective in terms MHL, Stigma and help-seeking behaviours. The contact with a person who has experimented mental illness first-hand did not reduce stigma attitudes. Further research should deal with the heterogeneity of MHL interventions (concept, duration and measures) and identify which components of stigma interventions are effective.