TY - JOUR
T1 - Feasibility and Acceptability of the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) Intervention in US Adolescents
AU - Lindow, Janet C.
AU - Hughes, Jennifer L.
AU - South, Charles
AU - Gutierrez, Luis
AU - Bannister, Elizabeth
AU - Trivedi, Madhukar H.
AU - Byerly, Matthew J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 International Academy for Suicide Research.
PY - 2020/4/2
Y1 - 2020/4/2
N2 - Suicide is the second leading cause of death among US adolescents, and rates of suicide among youth have been increasing for the past decade. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the universal, school-based Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program, a promising mental health promotion and suicide primary prevention intervention, in US youth. Using an uncontrolled design, the feasibility and acceptability of delivering and studying YAM were assessed in Montana and Texas schools. Thirteen of 16 (81.3%) schools agreed to support YAM delivery, and five Montana and 6 Texas schools were included in analyses. Facilitators delivered YAM in 78 classes (1,878 students) as regular high school curriculum. Of the total number of students who received YAM, 519 (27.6%) provided parental consent and assent. 436 (84.0%) consented students participated in pre- and post-surveys. Students, parents, and school staff found YAM highly acceptable based on satisfaction surveys. In summary, this study found YAM feasible to implement in US schools. Results also suggest students, parents, and school staff supported school-based programs and were highly satisfied with the YAM program. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to test the efficacy of YAM in promoting mental health and preventing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in US adolescents.
AB - Suicide is the second leading cause of death among US adolescents, and rates of suicide among youth have been increasing for the past decade. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the universal, school-based Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program, a promising mental health promotion and suicide primary prevention intervention, in US youth. Using an uncontrolled design, the feasibility and acceptability of delivering and studying YAM were assessed in Montana and Texas schools. Thirteen of 16 (81.3%) schools agreed to support YAM delivery, and five Montana and 6 Texas schools were included in analyses. Facilitators delivered YAM in 78 classes (1,878 students) as regular high school curriculum. Of the total number of students who received YAM, 519 (27.6%) provided parental consent and assent. 436 (84.0%) consented students participated in pre- and post-surveys. Students, parents, and school staff found YAM highly acceptable based on satisfaction surveys. In summary, this study found YAM feasible to implement in US schools. Results also suggest students, parents, and school staff supported school-based programs and were highly satisfied with the YAM program. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to test the efficacy of YAM in promoting mental health and preventing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in US adolescents.
KW - YAM
KW - Youth Aware of Mental Health
KW - adolescents
KW - feasibility
KW - mental health promotion
KW - suicide
KW - suicide prevention intervention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068825377&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85068825377&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13811118.2019.1624667
DO - 10.1080/13811118.2019.1624667
M3 - Article
C2 - 31159674
AN - SCOPUS:85068825377
SN - 1381-1118
VL - 24
SP - 269
EP - 284
JO - Archives of Suicide Research
JF - Archives of Suicide Research
IS - 2
ER -