Harry Potter-Themed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

Overseen By Mark Sinyor, MD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, others

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 9

3204 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a mental health program using Harry Potter stories can reduce suicidal thoughts in students. The program is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps individuals understand and manage their thoughts and feelings. Students will learn CBT skills in their English classes using the third Harry Potter book. The trial seeks students in Grades 7 and 8 who can speak and read English fluently and are willing to complete surveys about their mental health. As an unphased trial, this study provides students with a unique opportunity to engage with innovative mental health strategies in a supportive environment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems to focus on a school-based curriculum rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that this Harry Potter-based mental health literacy curriculum is safe for students?

Research has shown that the Harry Potter-themed mental health program, which incorporates skills from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is generally safe for students. Several studies indicate that this program can enhance well-being and reduce suicidal thoughts in middle schoolers without causing significant side effects. For instance, one study found that participants demonstrated better emotional control, improved self-esteem, and reduced depression and anxiety. Another study noted a reduction in suicidal thoughts and an increase in overall well-being.

While these results are encouraging, it's important to understand that this type of school-based program is designed to be safe and supportive. In these studies, no major safety issues were reported, suggesting that students handle the program well. These findings should reassure those considering participation about its safety. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Harry Potter-themed cognitive behavioral therapy because it uses a unique approach to engage students with mental health education. Unlike standard treatments that can feel clinical or detached, this therapy taps into the captivating world of Harry Potter to make learning about mental health both relatable and engaging. By utilizing familiar themes and characters, it aims to enhance mental health literacy and encourage students to apply these lessons to real-life situations, potentially offering a more engaging and memorable experience compared to traditional methods.

What evidence suggests that the Harry Potter-based Mental Health Literacy Curriculum could be effective for reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors?

Research shows that a mental health program based on Harry Potter can greatly help young people. In this trial, students in the first cohort will receive the Harry Potter-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Curriculum in the first half of the academic year. Studies have found that students who participated in similar programs had fewer thoughts about suicide and managed their emotions better. They also felt less depressed and anxious. These positive changes suggest that using well-known stories, like Harry Potter, to teach coping skills can be effective. Overall, this method seems to help students manage stress and improve their well-being. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Grade 7 and 8 students who can speak and read English fluently. They must be willing to fill out questionnaires about their mental health before the intervention, during, and after it ends. High school students in Grades 9-12 may also participate if allowed.

Inclusion Criteria

My school offers Grade 7 and 8, and possibly high school grades if needed.

Participants must be willing to complete demographic and clinical self-report questionnaires on anxiety, depression, and general well-being before the intervention and at each timepoint.

Participants must be able to speak and read fluent English

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

3-month manual-based curriculum teaching CBT skills using 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' in English class

12 weeks

4 visits (in-person) for questionnaire administration

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in suicidality, depression, anxiety, and well-being through questionnaires

Approximately 1 year

5 visits (in-person) for questionnaire administration

Extension

Additional follow-up to measure long-term effects of the curriculum

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Harry Potter-based Mental Health Literacy Curriculum

Trial Overview The study tests a Harry Potter-themed CBT curriculum aimed at improving mental wellness in children. Classes are randomly chosen to start the program either in fall or winter, with assessments throughout the year to measure its effectiveness on reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: CBT Curriculum - Second Cohort (Waitlist Controls) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Students will receive the current school board curriculum as usual for the first half of the academic year, serving as wait-list controls. Since this is a stepped wedge trial, the winter cohort will receive the identical intervention as the fall cohort in the second half of academic year.

Group II: CBT Curriculum - First Cohort Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Students will receive the 3-month cognitive behavioral therapy curriculum in the first half of the academic year.

Harry Potter-based Mental Health Literacy Curriculum is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as Harry Potter-based Mental Health Literacy Curriculum for:

• Suicidality prevention
• Depression
• Anxiety symptoms
• Improvement of well-being

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Lead Sponsor

Trials

693

Recruited

1,569,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A Harry Potter-based mental health curriculum significantly reduced suicidality and improved emotional regulation and self-concept among middle-schoolers, with 200 students participating in the intervention compared to 230 in a control group.

The intervention showed particularly strong benefits for girls, with significant improvements in measures of depression and anxiety, indicating that creative, relatable approaches to mental health education can be effective.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of a Harry Potter-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Skills Curriculum on Suicidality and Well-being in Middle Schoolers: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Klim-Conforti, P., Zaheer, R., Levitt, AJ., et al.[2022]

Rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression in high school students, with lasting effects observed at a six-month follow-up, compared to a control group.

REBT also effectively decreased dysfunctional thinking and increased self-esteem and hope, highlighting its potential as a valuable mental health intervention in school settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rational emotive behaviour therapy in high schools to educate in mental health and empower youth health. A randomized controlled study of a brief intervention. Sælid, GA., Nordahl, HM.[2019]

A pilot study involving 232 middle school students tested a Harry Potter-based curriculum aimed at teaching Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills, but found no significant differences in well-being scores compared to a control group of 362 students.

The study highlighted the feasibility of implementing the intervention but indicated that the current assessment tools may not effectively measure its impact, suggesting the need for a revised curriculum and validated measures in future trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preliminary Investigation of a Novel Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Curriculum on the Wellbeing of Middle Schoolers. Sinyor, M., Hawes, D., Rector, NA., et al.[2022]

Bibliotherapy, which involves reading and discussing literature, has been shown to help patients develop new perspectives and enhance their sense of purpose, making it a valuable non-pharmaceutical intervention for mental health issues, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The systematic review identified 13 relevant studies and highlighted the need for more structured research on bibliotherapy, suggesting that it can positively impact mental health by promoting values like autonomy and justice, and providing a framework for healthcare professionals to implement effective bibliotherapy interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bibliotherapy as a Non-pharmaceutical Intervention to Enhance Mental Health in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review and Bioethical Meta-Analysis. Monroy-Fraustro, D., Maldonado-Castellanos, I., Aboites-Molina, M., et al.[2021]

A review of 11 studies involving 7066 participants from 66 secondary schools found no strong evidence that school-based mental health literacy interventions effectively improve help-seeking outcomes among children and young people.

The lack of standardized measures and comprehensive approaches to mental health literacy and stigma has limited the evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions, highlighting the need for better measurement tools and economic evaluations in future research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review: School-based mental health literacy interventions to promote help-seeking - a systematic review. Ma, KKY., Burn, AM., Anderson, JK.[2023]

A high-school mental health curriculum called The Guide significantly improved students' mental health knowledge and attitudes, with 265 students showing marked gains in understanding after the course (p < 0.001).

The improvements in knowledge were maintained at a 2-month follow-up, indicating that the curriculum has lasting effects on mental health literacy among students.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sustained improvements in students' mental health literacy with use of a mental health curriculum in Canadian schools. Mcluckie, A., Kutcher, S., Wei, Y., et al.[2023]

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is recognized as an effective treatment for depression in children and adolescents, but there is limited evidence specifically addressing its efficacy for adolescents experiencing suicidality.

The article discusses various CBT techniques aimed at reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in depressed adolescents, highlighting the need for more targeted treatment trials in this vulnerable group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adolescent depression and suicidality. Spirito, A., Esposito-Smythers, C., Wolff, J., et al.[2022]

A study involving interviews with 11 school staff in England revealed that adaptations to a Canadian mental health literacy curriculum were made to better fit local contexts, including changes in content emphasis and teaching methods to be more interactive.

Logistical and philosophical reasons drove these adaptations, highlighting the need for flexibility in mental health interventions to reduce stigma and empower students while ensuring effective implementation in diverse educational settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adaptation of a school-based mental health literacy curriculum: from Canadian to English classrooms. Mansfield, R., Humphrey, N., Patalay, P., et al.[2022]

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) significantly reduced suicidal ideation and hopelessness in depressed adolescents aged 12 to 18 who had attempted suicide, with a 54% to 77% decrease in scores after 12 weeks of treatment.

In a clinical trial involving 30 participants, those receiving CBT showed marked improvements compared to a control group that did not receive the intervention, highlighting the efficacy of CBT in this high-risk population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in decreasing suicidal ideation and hopelessness of the adolescents with previous suicidal attempts. Alavi, A., Sharifi, B., Ghanizadeh, A., et al.[2022]

A brief cognitive behavioral (CB) group intervention significantly reduced the risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) onset in adolescents, with only 0.8% of participants developing MDD compared to 6.3% in the bibliotherapy group and 6.5% in the brochure control group.

While the CB group showed lower depressive symptom severity immediately after the intervention compared to the brochure control, the effects on long-term outcomes were small and not significant, suggesting that while the intervention is effective, its impact may vary based on initial depression levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Indicated cognitive behavioral group depression prevention compared to bibliotherapy and brochure control: acute effects of an effectiveness trial with adolescents. Rohde, P., Stice, E., Shaw, H., et al.[2021]

The Short Mental Health Literacy Program (SMHLP), a 50-minute teacher-led session, significantly improved mental health literacy among 975 high school first graders in Japan, with lasting effects observed at a 2-month follow-up.

Students who participated in the SMHLP showed increased knowledge about mental health, recognition of the need to seek help, and intentions to help peers, indicating that brief educational interventions can effectively enhance mental health understanding in adolescents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A quasi-cluster randomized controlled trial of a classroom-based mental health literacy educational intervention to promote knowledge and help-seeking/helping behavior in adolescents. Yamaguchi, S., Ojio, Y., Foo, JC., et al.[2021]

A study involving 332 grade 9 students showed that using an evidence-based mental health literacy curriculum significantly improved students' knowledge and reduced stigma about mental health, with lasting effects observed one year later.

Both students and educators experienced substantial improvements in mental health knowledge and stigma reduction, indicating that the curriculum is effective for enhancing mental health literacy outcomes in a school setting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term impact of a mental health literacy resource applied by regular classroom teachers in a Canadian school cohort. Wei, Y., Church, J., Kutcher, S.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7564693/

The Feasibility of a Harry Potter–based Cognitive ... A unique resiliency curriculum imparting cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) skills to youth through the 3rd book in the Harry Potter series.

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032721001440

The Impact of a Harry Potter-Based Cognitive-Behavioral ... This study demonstrates significant improvement in suicidality, emotional regulation, self-concept, interpersonal difficulties, depression and anxiety in youth.

3. europepmc.org europepmc.org/article/med/33721740

The Impact of a Harry Potter-Based Cognitive-Behavioral ... To evaluate the impact of a Harry Potter-based mental health literacy curriculum, imparting cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills, on suicidality and well- ...

4. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-suicide-attempted-8-2021-2a327

Harry Potter-Themed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ... The Harry Potter-based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Skills Curriculum has been shown to improve well-being and reduce suicidal thoughts in middle schoolers.

5. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33721740/

The Impact of a Harry Potter-Based Cognitive-Behavioral ... This study demonstrates significant improvement in suicidality, emotional regulation, self-concept, interpersonal difficulties, depression and anxiety in youth.

6. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/349218470_The_Impact_of_a_Harry_Potter-Based_Cognitive_Behavioral_Therapy_Skills_Curriculum_on_Suicidality_and_Wellbeing_in_Middle_Schoolers_A_Randomized_Controlled_Trial

The Impact of a Harry Potter-Based Cognitive Behavioral ... This paper draws on qualitative data collected as part of the process evaluation within a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ...

7. clinicaltrial.be clinicaltrial.be/en/details/47156?per_page=100&recruiting=1&enrolling_by_invitation=1&active_not_recruiting=1&not_yet_recruiting=0&completed=0&only_recruiting=0&only_eligible=0

Harry Potter as a Novel Educational Paradigm to Improve M... The primary objective of the study is to determine whether the Harry Potter-based cognitive behavioural therapy curriculum diminishes ...