1200 Participants Needed

Cooperative Learning for Teen Mental Health

Recruiting at 2 trial locations
MV
Overseen ByMark Van Ryzin
Age: Any Age
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Oregon
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Adolescence is a developmental period of significant risk for anxiety, depressive symptoms, and suicidality, and the investigators propose to target key peer-based risk and protective factors using Cooperative Learning (CL). CL is a small-group instructional approach that can enhance peer relations and reduce peer-related risks, as well as promote academic engagement and achievement and reduce racial disparities. CL will be delivered with the aid of technology that automates the design and delivery of CL lessons, promoting rapid implementation, scalability, high fidelity, accessibility, and sustainability.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment PeerLearning.net, Cooperative Learning, CL, PeerLearning.net for teen mental health?

Research shows that peer-administered interventions, which involve people with similar experiences helping each other, can significantly reduce symptoms of depression. These interventions are as effective as traditional treatments and better than no treatment, suggesting that peer-based approaches like PeerLearning.net could be beneficial for teen mental health.12345

Is Cooperative Learning for Teen Mental Health safe for participants?

The research articles do not provide specific safety data for Cooperative Learning for Teen Mental Health or its related programs. However, they discuss the importance of peer support programs in healthcare settings, which are generally considered valuable and feasible, but they do not directly address safety concerns for this specific treatment.678910

How is the PeerLearning.net treatment different from other mental health treatments for teens?

PeerLearning.net is unique because it uses a peer teaching method where older students educate younger ones about mental health, helping them recognize signs and seek help, which is different from traditional adult-led or clinical approaches.1112131415

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for all students and teachers in certain grades at participating schools who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, depression, or anxiety. It aims to improve adolescent mental health by focusing on peer relations.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a student or teacher in the specified grades at a participating school.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-Intervention

Teachers in pre-intervention schools continue with typical instruction without technology support

Varies

Implementation of PeerLearning.net

Teachers in implementation schools use PeerLearning.net for instruction, delivering lessons at least four times per month

4 years
Monthly monitoring visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in anxiety, depressive symptoms, and other outcomes

Spring of Year 4

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • PeerLearning.net
Trial OverviewThe intervention being tested is a technology-supported small-group instructional method called Cooperative Learning (CL). CL targets peer-based risk factors and promotes academic engagement to help reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidality.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Implementation of PeerLearning.netExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Teachers in implementation schools will be given access to training and resources to implement PeerLearning.net as a core component of instruction. Investigators will not create specific requirements of teachers but will ask that they deliver lessons with PeerLearning.net at least four times per month. Investigators will monitor all teacher usage and thus will be able to promote greater usage by (1) publicly acknowledging teachers that are using it frequently and experiencing success, and (2) targeting teachers who use it infrequently with additional resources and support to encourage more frequent use.
Group II: Pre-InterventionActive Control1 Intervention
Teachers in pre-intervention schools will continue with business as usual (i.e., typical instruction). Based upon previous experience in conducting research in school settings, teachers in pre-intervention schools will likely use CL very infrequently, and without the benefit of technology support.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Oregon

Lead Sponsor

Trials
91
Recruited
46,700+

Arizona State University

Collaborator

Trials
311
Recruited
109,000+

Oregon Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials
87
Recruited
62,600+

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Collaborator

Trials
1,249
Recruited
3,255,000+

Findings from Research

The PeerTECH intervention, a digital peer support program for adults with serious mental illness, was found to be feasible and acceptable, showing significant improvements in self-efficacy and personal empowerment over a 12-week period with 21 participants.
Preliminary evidence suggests that this intervention can enhance self-management skills for both medical and psychiatric conditions, indicating its potential as a valuable tool in supporting recovery for individuals with serious mental illnesses.
Assessing a digital peer support self-management intervention for adults with serious mental illness: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness.Fortuna, KL., Myers, AL., Ferron, J., et al.[2023]
The 'Entrelaços' Peer Support Program successfully engaged 246 participants over 18 months, leading to the formation of 7 independent mutual-help groups that have supported over 214 families in the community.
Participants reported increased empowerment and social support, transitioning from service users to peer providers, highlighting the program's effectiveness in integrating psychoeducation with problem-solving therapy in a cost-effective manner.
Psychoeducation and Problem-Solving Therapy as an Integrative Model of Mutual-Help Groups for People with Severe Mental Disorders: A Report from Brazil.Palmeira, L., Keusen, A., Carim, E., et al.[2021]
Peer-administered interventions (PAIs) significantly reduce depression symptoms, with a moderate effect size of 0.5043 based on a meta-analysis of 23 studies.
PAIs are as effective as non-peer-administered treatments and significantly outperform no-treatment conditions, suggesting they are a valuable option for depression treatment, especially when delivered purely by peers rather than in conjunction with professionals.
Meta-analysis of the effects of peer-administered psychosocial interventions on symptoms of depression.Bryan, AE., Arkowitz, H.[2015]

References

Assessing a digital peer support self-management intervention for adults with serious mental illness: feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness. [2023]
Psychoeducation and Problem-Solving Therapy as an Integrative Model of Mutual-Help Groups for People with Severe Mental Disorders: A Report from Brazil. [2021]
Meta-analysis of the effects of peer-administered psychosocial interventions on symptoms of depression. [2015]
Peer-to-peer psychoeducation in schizophrenia: a new approach. [2022]
Peer and Non-Peer Academic Scientists and Peer Support Specialist Community of Practice: Stakeholder Engagement to Advance the Science of Peer Support. [2022]
Evaluation of'the Buddy Study', a peer support program for second victims in healthcare: a survey in two Danish hospital departments. [2022]
An Innovative and Integrative Approach to Breaking Down Barriers to Traditional Morbidity and Mortality Conference. [2023]
Implementation of a Peer-to-Peer Support Program in a Quaternary Pediatric Medical Center. [2023]
Development and Pilot of a Process for Regularly Sharing Summary Patient Safety Data. [2023]
Qualitative Exploration of the Potential for Adverse Events When Using an Online Peer Support Network for Mental Health: Cross-Sectional Survey. [2020]
School-based health promotion to improve mental health literacy: a comparative study of peer- versus adult-led delivery. [2023]
A process evaluation of a peer education project to improve mental health literacy in secondary school students: study protocol. [2021]
The Peer Education Project to improve mental health literacy in secondary school students in England: a qualitative realist evaluation. [2023]
A school-based health promotion programme to increase help-seeking for substance use and mental health problems: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. [2018]
15.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Population-based initiatives in college mental health: students helping students to overcome obstacles. [2022]