Civic Engagement Intervention for Mental Health Wellness

(I-ACTED Trial)

Overseen By Parissa J. Ballard, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

2500 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to assess how participation in an action civics program affects the mental health and well-being of young people. The program involves students collaborating to address local issues, such as improving school lunches or enhancing community safety. Researchers will compare students who participate in the program with those who do not to understand its effects. Middle or high school students enrolled in a participating school are ideal candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study provides students with a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful community change while potentially enhancing their own mental health and well-being.

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 prior data suggests that participating in an action civics curriculum is safe for young people?

Research has shown that participating in action civics programs, such as those from Generation Citizen, leads to many positive benefits. Studies have found that young people involved in community-helping activities tend to experience better mental health, perform well in school, and achieve more in their careers.

These action civics programs are safe and well-received by participants. They teach students about community involvement, such as addressing local issues. Since these activities are educational and occur in schools, no problems have been reported.

Overall, these programs aim to empower students by connecting them with their communities, which can enhance their mental well-being. This suggests a safe and beneficial experience for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Civic Engagement Intervention for Mental Health Wellness because it explores how participating in civic activities can boost mental health. Unlike standard mental health treatments like therapy or medication, this approach involves students actively engaging in their communities to tackle real-world issues. This hands-on involvement may help improve mental wellness by fostering a sense of purpose and empowerment. Researchers hope to find out if actively participating in civic projects can be a powerful tool for enhancing mental health in ways traditional treatments might not.

What evidence suggests that participating in an Action Civics program could be effective for mental health wellness?

Research has shown that joining an Action Civics program, which participants in this trial may experience, can boost mental health and well-being. Studies have found that young people involved in civic activities often report better mental health, perform better in school, and have improved life opportunities. Specifically, the Generation Citizen program, one of the programs tested in this trial, helps students learn more about civics and feel more confident in their ability to make a difference in their communities. One study found that students in this program developed better critical thinking skills and felt a stronger connection to their community. These benefits suggest that participating in action civics could enhance both mental wellness and community involvement. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Parissa J Ballard, PhD

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Participating in Action Civics program
• Participating in Generation Citizen's action civics program

Trial Overview

The 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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Action Civics program Experimental Treatment 1 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 program Active Control 1 Intervention

Students in this arm will receive no intervention.

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 111 patients from 36 multidisciplinary care networks found that higher perceived patient involvement is positively associated with greater satisfaction and empowerment in mental health care.

Demographic factors had little impact on satisfaction or empowerment, except that men reported higher empowerment scores than women, highlighting the importance of patient involvement in improving mental health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is perceived patient involvement in mental health care associated with satisfaction and empowerment? Tambuyzer, E., Van Audenhove, C.[2021]

Civic engagement among adolescents and young adults is linked to significant health and developmental benefits, highlighting its importance in their lives.

Providers can play a crucial role in fostering civic engagement by identifying issues that matter to youth and connecting them with community resources and opportunities for participation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Civic Engagement to Empower Young People to Impact Health and Well-Being. Korich, F., Fields, EL.[2023]

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.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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]

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.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can a school-based civic empowerment intervention support adolescent health? Ballard, PJ., Cohen, AK., Duarte, CDP.[2020]

Civic engagement (CE) can significantly improve mental health services in South East Asia, but it is crucial to adapt Western models to fit local cultures and values for successful implementation.

The review identified four key mechanisms that influence the effectiveness of CE in mental health, highlighting the importance of community-level approaches and addressing barriers like stigma and distrust in services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementing civic engagement within mental health services in South East Asia: a systematic review and realist synthesis of current evidence. James, K., Brooks, H., Susanti, H., et al.[2022]

The health citizenship movement encourages active participation from both healthy individuals and those with illnesses in discussions with researchers, industry, and regulators.

This movement aims to create a collaborative platform that enhances communication and engagement in health-related research and policy-making.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rx for Innovation: A path forward for us all. Anderson, M.[2018]

This study aims to explore how youth with mental health challenges experience citizenship and its impact on their recovery, using a mixed methods approach that includes both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.

The research will identify predictors of citizenship and assess the extent to which youth are receiving care that promotes their sense of belonging, potentially leading to the development of more citizenship-oriented healthcare practices in Canada.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Mixed Methods Study Examining Citizenship Among Youth With Mental Health Challenges. Jordan, G., Burke, L., Bailey, J., et al.[2023]

A civic engagement training program implemented at an alternative school successfully increased students' awareness of social and political issues, leading to greater civic participation and advocacy skills.

Students reported a desire to share their newfound knowledge and experiences with their peers and families, indicating a positive impact on their understanding of citizenship and voting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Civic engagement training at a school for youth with a history of dropping out. Balcazar, FE., Garcia, M., Venson, S.[2023]

A study of 621 noncollege young adults found that civic engagement is linked to improved well-being, with civic efficacy and meaning acting as important mediators in this relationship.

Different types of civic engagement, such as activism and online participation, have varying impacts on well-being, suggesting that tailored support and resources are needed to help young adults effectively engage in civic activities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Civic engagement and well-being among noncollege young adults: Investigating a mediation model. Fenn, N., Yang, M., Pearson-Merkowitz, S., et al.[2023]

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.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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]

Volunteering is the most common form of civic engagement among California high school students, but Latino teens and those from low-income families participate at lower rates.

Increased civic engagement is linked to better health outcomes, improved academic performance, and a higher likelihood of attending college, suggesting that promoting such activities could support healthier adolescent development.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Civic Engagement Among California High School Teens. Babey, SH., Wolstein, J.[2021]

The citizenship framework emphasizes the importance of social inclusion and participation for individuals with mental illnesses, highlighting the need for access to resources and recognition of rights within society.

Research on citizenship in mental health care focuses on both individual experiences and broader social-environmental factors, suggesting that community psychology plays a crucial role in promoting the social integration of people with mental health challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Citizenship and Community Mental Health Care. Ponce, AN., Rowe, M.[2022]

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