Mental Health Screenings for African-American Children's Well-being

Enrolling by invitation at 1 trial location

Overseen By Joni Splett, Ph.D

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Florida

Disqualifiers: Wards of the state

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to identify the most effective way to use school-based mental health screenings to help African-American elementary students access necessary mental health services. It compares two screening methods: Enhanced Screening, which includes additional support such as training and coaching for school staff, and Screening Only, which uses a standard approach. Students attending the participating schools and their school's intervention teams can join. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative approaches in mental health support for young students.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that these mental health screenings are safe for children?

Research has shown that mental health check-ups are usually safe for children. However, specific safety information for African-American children is lacking. These check-ups identify mental health needs early, leading to better support and outcomes. The program helps school staff understand students' mental health, which is crucial for planning assistance. By enhancing existing school mental health programs, the trial builds on methods already recognized as safe and effective. Although specific safety details are not provided, the overall approach is well-accepted and aims to improve mental health support for students. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores new ways to enhance mental health support for African-American children. Unlike traditional approaches that often rely solely on universal screening, the enhanced method in this trial adds layers of training, coaching, and data-based feedback for school teams. This aims to increase awareness and understanding of students' mental health needs, potentially leading to earlier and more effective interventions. By equipping schools with these additional tools, the trial hopes to uncover more effective strategies for supporting children's mental well-being.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving mental health services for African-American children?

Research has shown that enhancing mental health check-ups in schools can help more children receive the support they need. In this trial, participants will join either the Enhanced arm or the Comparator arm. The Enhanced arm provides additional training, coaching, and data-based feedback for school staff to better understand students' mental health needs. Studies have found that screening all students for mental health issues helps identify those who need assistance. These improvements have been linked to better outcomes in detecting and addressing mental health issues in students. By identifying these needs more effectively, the screenings increase the likelihood that children will receive the necessary services. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Joni Splett, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

University of Florida

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for elementary school students at certain schools where the study is taking place. It's aimed to help African-American children with mental health needs. Children who are under the care of the state or any institution other than their family cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Students at study school

School intervention teams at study school

Exclusion Criteria

Students who are wards of the state or any other institution, agency, or entity

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Implementation of school-based mental health enhancements, including bias and mental health literacy training for school teams

2 school years

Ongoing school-based activities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in mental health intervention referrals and disciplinary encounters

2 school years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Enhanced Screening
• Screening Only

Trial Overview The study is testing two methods: one group will receive a basic mental health screening, while another group gets an enhanced screening process. The goal is to see which method leads to better access and use of mental health services.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Enhanced Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The enhanced arm involves the enhancements to school-based mental health (SBMH) of the comparator arm with the addition of 3 additional empirically-based implementation supports, including training, coaching, and data-based feedback. Enhancement aim to increase school teams' awareness and understanding of students' mental health well-being and need for intervention.

Group II: Comparator Active Control 1 Intervention

The comparator arm enhances school-based mental health (SBMH) with universal screening and trains voluntary school teams to use the school-wide data to plan and make intervention referrals using an evidence-based in-service training and coaching model called Team-Initiated Problem Solving (TIPS).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,428

Recruited

987,000+

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials

592

Recruited

27,110,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05450094

Reducing Unmet Mental Health Need of African-American ... The purpose of this study is to compare two versions of school-based mental health screening to improve the receipt of mental health services among elementary ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-mental-health-8-2022-df19c

Mental Health Screenings for African-American Children's ... The purpose of this study is to compare two versions of school-based mental health screening to improve the receipt of mental health services among elementary ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11322249/

Universal Child Mental Health Screening for Parents Enhancing school-based mental health services with a preventive and promotive approach to universal screening for complete mental health.

4. publications.aap.org publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/156/3/e2025073172/203217/Promoting-Optimal-Development-Screening-for-Mental

Screening for Mental Health, Emotional, and Behavioral ... Although approximately 78% of children with depression received treatment, only 59% of those with anxiety and 53% with behavior problems ...

5. kff.org kff.org/mental-health/the-landscape-of-school-based-mental-health-services/

The Landscape of School-Based Mental Health Services This issue brief explores the landscape of mental health services, including services offered, utilization, barriers, and funding, ...

6. africanamericanbehavioralhealth.org africanamericanbehavioralhealth.org/documents/ImprovingMentalHealthOutcomesforVulnerableBlackChildrenandYouth.pdf

Improving Mental Health Outcomes for Vulnerable Black ... Mental health of Black youth is influenced by historical trauma, social determinants, and factors like genetics, family, and cultural ...

7. epi.org epi.org/publication/toxic-stress-and-childrens-outcomes-african-american-children-growing-up-poor-are-at-greater-risk-of-disrupted-physiological-functioning-and-depressed-academic-achievement/

Toxic stress and children's outcomes: African American ... This report describes the relative frequency of toxic stress by race and social class, and shows how it depresses children's outcomes and ...

8. capmh.biomedcentral.com capmh.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13034-024-00800-5

Scoping review on mental health standards for Black youth [85] shed light on comprehensive strategies and recommendations to enhance mental health outcomes for Black youth and young men of color.

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8262091/

Mental Health Burden among Black Adolescents This study examines mental health symptoms among Black adolescents who were currently in mental health treatment and those who were not in treatment.