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Evaluation of a community helpers' mental health and suicide awareness training programme for youth and young adults in Alberta, Canada.
- Source :
-
Public Health (Elsevier) . Mar2024, Vol. 228, p128-136. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- The Community Helpers Programme (CHP) is a peer-helping programme providing youth and young adults with tools to support their peers to problem solve and seek mental health and suicide prevention support. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the provincial programme (primary outcomes = knowledge, self-efficacy; secondary outcome = awareness of stigma) and describe the experience of participants, coordinators, and others. The mixed methods evaluation included a longitudinal panel design outcome evaluation along with follow-up interviews. A series of three surveys collecting participant characteristics, knowledge, self-efficacy, and awareness of stigma at pre-training (T0), post-training (T1), and six-months follow-up (T2) were conducted. Mean group scores were calculated for completers (T0 and T1 completers and T0, T1, and T2 completers). Friedman tests were conducted to assess change over time and follow-up Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests determined the significance of changes in scores between each timepoint. Content analysis was conducted on qualitative data. Participants' knowledge of mental health, suicide, and available supports along with self-efficacy increased from T0 to T1, and declined at T2. Awareness of stigma was high at all timepoints. Themes from the qualitative analysis included skill and knowledge development facilitators (e.g., consideration of learner needs, passionate coordinators, engaged learning approaches), sustaining community helper connectedness (e.g., helpers' network, awareness of and communication with local resources), and role and impact of CHP (e.g., addressing stigma, success stories). This evaluation demonstrated that CHP was effective and offered feedback on experiences, including suggestions on CHP strengths and aspects to explore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *SUICIDE prevention
*HEALTH literacy
*MENTAL health
*SELF-efficacy
*DATA analysis
*QUALITATIVE research
*AFFINITY groups
*INTERVIEWING
*CONTENT analysis
*PROBLEM solving
*SURVEYS
*PRE-tests & post-tests
*INFORMATION needs
*ATTITUDES of medical personnel
*RESEARCH methodology
*FRIEDMAN test (Statistics)
*STATISTICS
*ABILITY
*COMMUNICATION
*BUSINESS networks
*HEALTH outcome assessment
*SOCIAL support
*LEARNING strategies
*COMMUNITY-based social services
*PATIENTS' attitudes
*SOCIAL stigma
*PATIENT aftercare
*TRAINING
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00333506
- Volume :
- 228
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Public Health (Elsevier)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 175984697
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2024.01.009