Life Skills Training for Mental Health
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial tests a program called Level Up, designed to help soldiers improve life skills and mental health. It focuses on reducing suicidal behaviors and other harmful actions, enhancing job performance, and decreasing the likelihood of early military departure. Participants will use a mobile app for training and receive personalized support from trainers. The trial seeks active-duty soldiers at their first duty station in the South Central U.S. who can attend in-person training and have a smartphone for the app.
As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance the well-being of fellow soldiers.
What prior data suggests that the Level Up program is safe for mental health training?
Research has shown that programs like Level Up, which focus on preventing suicide and teaching life skills, positively reduce harmful behaviors. These programs equip participants to handle tough situations with greater knowledge and confidence. For example, studies have found that such training can make it easier for people to seek help and respond effectively in a crisis.
Although specific safety data for the Level Up program is not available, it is a non-invasive educational program, generally considered safe. Programs of this nature typically involve learning and practicing skills, so they do not carry the same risks as medical treatments or drugs. Therefore, participants can expect a low risk of negative side effects.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about the Level Up program because it offers a fresh, tech-savvy approach to mental health support for soldiers. Unlike traditional therapies that often involve regular, face-to-face sessions, Level Up combines interactive learning with mobile and online technology, making it accessible anytime. Its personalized coaching and on-demand virtual booster sessions are designed to build crucial life skills and coping strategies, potentially helping prevent suicide and other harmful behaviors. This hybrid model makes Level Up stand out by offering flexibility and personalization that many standard treatments lack.
What evidence suggests that the Level Up program is effective for improving mental health and reducing suicidal-related behaviors?
Research has shown that life skills training programs, such as Level Up, can reduce suicidal behaviors and improve mental health. In this trial, participants will join either the Level Up Program or the ENGAGE Training. Studies have found that programs like Level Up help people develop essential coping skills, which can protect against harmful behaviors. Evidence from other suicide prevention programs has demonstrated success in lowering suicide rates by utilizing community and public health resources. Additionally, training that boosts confidence in managing suicide risk can lead to better outcomes. Overall, the Level Up program aims to enhance life skills to support soldiers' mental health and performance.678910
Who Is on the Research Team?
Thomas H Nassif, PhD
Principal Investigator
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for active duty soldiers who are just arriving at their first military installation in the South Central U.S. and attending reception center activities. It aims to help them with life skills that could improve mental health, job performance, and reduce risky behaviors.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants receive the Level Up program or the ENGAGE training during their in-processing week at their first duty station.
Follow-up
Participants complete follow-up surveys to assess the occurrence of harmful behaviors and other outcomes.
Booster Sessions
Participants engage in virtual booster sessions focused on practical domains like finances, leadership, and personal relationships.
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Level Up
Trial Overview
The study tests 'Level Up,' a program designed to boost soldiers' life skills through an app or online platform, featuring personalized messages and virtual sessions. It's compared against a single session Army bystander intervention program to see if it can lower suicidal behaviors and enhance overall well-being.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
The Level Up program is a hybrid intervention combining interactive learning, mobile/online technology, personalized coaching, and on-demand virtual booster sessions. The evidence-based training program was designed to build life skills and coping strategies that can protect against suicide, other harmful behaviors, poor work performance, and premature separation during a Soldier's first duty assignment.
ENGAGE is an existing single session Army bystander intervention program. The training program is based on bystander intervention and prosocial behavior research.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Lead Sponsor
Harvard University
Collaborator
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Collaborator
Regents of the University of Michigan
Collaborator
University of Michigan
Collaborator
Defense Health Agency
Collaborator
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
Collaborator
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Collaborator
Massachusetts General Hospital
Collaborator
Citations
Life Skills Training for Soldiers Arriving at Their First Duty ...
This project will evaluate the effectiveness of Level Up, a strengths based, military-specific life skills training program. The goal is to determine whether ...
Effectiveness of Suicide Prevention Programmes Among ...
This review aimed to identify available suicide prevention programmes for adolescents, their contextualisation, and effects on suicidal behaviours.
The effectiveness of a suicide prevention program in ...
A primary care suicide prevention program supported by community public health resources, was effective in reducing suicide rates.
Suicide prevention skills, confidence and training
This study examined the types of training behavioral health care professionals received, their self-reported skills, comfort level and confidence related to ...
5.
cams-care.com
cams-care.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/LoParo.SuicidePreventionTrainingsCommunityHealthCenters.2019.pdfAssociations of Suicide Prevention Trainings with Practices ...
Conclusion: These results suggest that behavioral health providers who are confident in their skills in assessing and treating suicide risk are more likely.
Suicide prevention skills, confidence and training
Suicide prevention skills, confidence and training: Results from the Zero Suicide Workforce Survey of behavioral health care professionals.
2024 Suicide Prevention Report
◦ Evaluation and Improvement: OMH continually evaluates the effectiveness of its suicide prevention programs and makes necessary adjustments to ensure they ...
Programs for Suicide Prevention - NCBI - NIH
These prevention programs are designed to influence everyone, reducing suicide risk though removing barriers to care, enhancing knowledge of what to do and say ...
9.
theactionalliance.org
theactionalliance.org/sites/default/files/moving_suicide_prevention_upstream_-_final.pdfMoving Suicide Prevention Upstream
Programs such as Green Dot and Safe Dates train students and staff to recognize and prevent violence. They have demonstrated positive outcomes ...
Review-of-ASIST.pdf
Complete results can be found in the separately published Data Extraction Tables. Page 16. Review of the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Program ( ...
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