2500 Participants Needed

Civic Engagement Intervention for Mental Health Wellness

(I-ACTED Trial)

GT
PJ
Overseen ByParissa J. Ballard, PhD
Age: < 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this research is to understand how participating or not participating in an action civics curriculum may affect the health and wellbeing of young people. Participants will be chosen from students who attend certain schools that choose to participate in the action civics curriculum. Participation in this research involves completing surveys during class time in the Spring and Fall 2021-2022 semesters and then completing online surveys outside of class in the future.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Participating in Action Civics program for mental health wellness?

Research on similar citizenship interventions shows they can improve quality of life and reduce substance use for people with serious mental illness, although some negative effects like increased anxiety were noted. Additionally, a school-based civic empowerment program showed a small improvement in physical health, suggesting that civic engagement can have positive health impacts.12345

Is the Civic Engagement Intervention for Mental Health Wellness safe for participants?

Research suggests that participating in civic engagement programs like Generation Citizen is generally safe and may even have positive effects on physical health, especially for those with lower civic self-efficacy (confidence in their ability to engage in civic activities).36789

How does the Civic Engagement Intervention for Mental Health Wellness treatment differ from other treatments for mental health?

This treatment is unique because it focuses on engaging young people in civic activities, which can enhance their sense of empowerment and community involvement, potentially improving their mental health. Unlike traditional mental health treatments that may involve medication or therapy, this approach uses civic participation to promote well-being and self-efficacy.36101112

Research Team

PJ

Parissa J Ballard, PhD

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for middle or high school students enrolled in a course with a teacher from a school that's participating in the study. It's designed to see how being involved in an action civics curriculum impacts their health and wellbeing.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a student in Middle or High School.
Enrolled in a course with a teacher from a school participating in the study

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in the Action Civics program, which includes choosing a local issue, learning strategies for civic action, and implementing an action plan.

Spring and Fall 2021-2022 semesters
In-class participation

Follow-up

Participants complete online surveys to assess health and wellbeing outcomes.

1 year following baseline
Online surveys

Long-term Follow-up

Participants are monitored for long-term effects on health and wellbeing.

1 year following baseline

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Participating in Action Civics program
  • Participating in Generation Citizen's action civics program
Trial OverviewThe I-ACTED study is testing whether taking part in an Action Civics program can influence young people's mental wellness, social interactions, and attitudes towards health. Students will complete surveys during class time and online at later dates.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Action Civics programExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Students in this arm will take part in an Action Civics (AC) program. AC delivers action civics programming to young people from diverse backgrounds nationwide. AC offers a school-based action civics curriculum in which classes collectively choose a local issue, learn strategies and skills for taking civic action, develop an action plan, and take action on their selected local issue. Students, as a class, tackle topics ranging from health-related (e.g., health of school lunches) to safety-related (e.g. lack of crosswalks) to community social issues (e.g., community-police relations).
Group II: No Action Civics programActive Control1 Intervention
Students in this arm will receive no intervention.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,432
Recruited
2,506,000+

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Collaborator

Trials
161
Recruited
697,000+

Findings from Research

The citizenship intervention significantly improved quality of life and reduced substance use among 114 adults with serious mental illness and criminal justice involvement over a four-month period.
While the intervention had positive effects, it also led to increased anxiety, depression, and negative symptoms at 12 months, indicating a need for ongoing support after the intervention ends.
The Citizenship Project part II: impact of a citizenship intervention on clinical and community outcomes for persons with mental illness and criminal justice involvement.Clayton, A., O'Connell, MJ., Bellamy, C., et al.[2013]
The evaluation of a national training program for patient and public involvement (PPI) in mental health services showed that participants reported significant learning gains, with an average score of 3.97 out of 5, indicating very good to excellent outcomes.
The training emphasized the importance of co-production among all stakeholders, including service users and health professionals, to effectively design and deliver PPI initiatives, highlighting the need for collaboration in mental health service development.
Evaluation of a national training programme to support engagement in mental health services: Learning enablers and learning gains.Frawley, T., Carroll, L., Casey, M., et al.[2020]
Participation in the Generation Citizen program led to a small but statistically significant improvement in self-reported physical health among 364 middle and high school students, although there was no significant change in mental health.
The program's benefits appeared to be more pronounced for students with lower civic self-efficacy, suggesting that empowering youth in civic engagement can enhance their health outcomes, particularly for those who may initially feel less capable in contributing to their communities.
Can a school-based civic empowerment intervention support adolescent health?Ballard, PJ., Cohen, AK., Duarte, CDP.[2020]

References

The Citizenship Project part II: impact of a citizenship intervention on clinical and community outcomes for persons with mental illness and criminal justice involvement. [2013]
Evaluation of a national training programme to support engagement in mental health services: Learning enablers and learning gains. [2020]
Can a school-based civic empowerment intervention support adolescent health? [2020]
Is perceived patient involvement in mental health care associated with satisfaction and empowerment? [2021]
Citizenship and Community Mental Health Care. [2022]
Civic Engagement to Empower Young People to Impact Health and Well-Being. [2023]
Civic Engagement Among California High School Teens. [2021]
Rx for Innovation: A path forward for us all. [2018]
A Mixed Methods Study Examining Citizenship Among Youth With Mental Health Challenges. [2023]
Civic engagement training at a school for youth with a history of dropping out. [2023]
Implementing civic engagement within mental health services in South East Asia: a systematic review and realist synthesis of current evidence. [2022]
12.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Civic engagement and well-being among noncollege young adults: Investigating a mediation model. [2023]