@article{ref1,
title="The Sources of Strength Australia Project: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-connectedness school-based program to promote help-seeking in adolescents",
journal="Journal of affective disorders",
year="2021",
author="Calear, Alison L. and McCallum, Sonia M. and Christensen, Helen and Mackinnon, Andrew J. and Nicolopoulos, Alexandra and Brewer, Jacqueline L. and Werner-Seidler, Aliza and Morse, Alyssa R. and Kazan, Dominique and Farrer, Louise M. and Kampel, Laura and Batterham, Philip J.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Suicide is a significant public health problem and there is a clear need for interventions to improve help seeking for suicide and psychological distress in young people. This trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of the school-based Sources of Strength program in increasing help-seeking intentions and behaviours in adolescents. <br><br>METHODS: A cluster, randomised controlled trial was conducted in 13 Australian secondary schools (N=1633), with each school randomly allocated to the intervention (n=7) or wait-list control condition (n=6). Participants in the intervention condition received the Sources of Strength program over two years and all participants completed self-report measures of help-seeking intentions and behaviour at four time-points. Staff and students in the intervention condition also provided qualitative feedback on the perceived impact of the program. <br><br>RESULTS: Mixed model repeated measures analyses demonstrated no significant effect of the Sources of Strength program on help-seeking intentions or behaviour at post-intervention or 6- or 18-month follow-up. Staff and students reported, through qualitative feedback, that the program increased awareness of and openness to help seeking and promoted a common language and school community. LIMITATIONS: The current study only included self-report measures that may have been influenced by situational factors or biases. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Although the Sources of Strength program may have increased awareness of help seeking, there was no evidence that it is effective in increasing help-seeking intentions or behaviours in this cohort. The program may be more suitable for schools in disadvantaged areas where there may be limited existing connections to trusted adults.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0165-0327",
doi="10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.043",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.043"
}