SchoolSpace: An online screening study to identify young people at risk of developing eating disorders |
Charlotte Connor |
Introduction: Our outreach work with schools has led to the development of ‘SchoolSpace’, a network of schools committed to working in partnership with us to improve mental health education and support for young people. This network has enabled teachers and students to participate in our longitudinal eating disorder (ED) screening study, an online survey which aims to identify risk and resilience factors associated with the development of EDs. Outcomes from this study will inform the design and development of evidence-based universal and targeted interventions for use in schools. Objective: Currently ‘SchoolSpace’ has no permanent online presence. We aim to develop it as a stand-alone school mental health resource and research portal for schools - www.theschoolspace.me . Method: Working in partnership with the ‘SchoolSpace’ network and our industry partner, digital healthcare company (Vision 360), www.schoolspace.me will function as a school-specific website for teachers and young people. The site will offer a wide range of information, support tools and materials for use in the classroom, and serve as a research portal to enable schools to become actively involved in a variety of youth-friendly online surveys, with the aim of promoting early intervention and identification of emerging adolescent mental health issues. Policy/Practice Implications: Teachers are increasingly expected to provide young people with good quality education and support with regards to their mental health, however, a lack of appropriate training and resources often leaves them unskilled and unable to deal with the responsibility. This was highlighted by the recent report of the UK Government Health Select Committee (November 2014), into Children’s and Adolescents Mental Health and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, which recommended a much needed “…audit of mental health provision and support within schools, looking at how well the guidance issued to schools this year has been implemented, what further support may be needed, and highlighting examples of best practice”. Conclusion: The establishment of www.theschoolspace.me will provide schools in UK with a dedicated site committed to providing trusted resources for use in mental health education.
|
Conference Poster |
A longitudinal investigation of the relationship between filial self-efficacy, bullying and substance use |
Catherine Quinn |
Adolescence is a time of transition, when bullying and underage drinking are common. These behaviours often occur within a peer context and are heavily influenced by the peer group (Anderson & Brown, 2011; Salmivalli, 2010). However, despite the increasing influence of peers, parents still have an important role in this transitional phase, and in adolescents’ engagement in bullying and underage drinking. Bullying and substance use are often engaged in by adolescents who are poorly monitored by their parents and who experience high conflict and poor communication with their parents (Espelage & Swearer, 2003; Ryan, Jorm, & Lubman, 2010). While this parent-adolescent relationship is often conceptualised as the parent acting upon the adolescent, an agentic perspective on adolescent development focuses on how adolescents learn to manage their relationship with their father and mother. Caprara et al. (2005) found that adolescents’ filial self-efficacy, or their belief in their ability to discuss personal problems with their parents, to manage negative reactions, and to constructively influence parental attitudes impacted other parental-child factors, resulting in more open communication with their parents, less parental conflict, more parental monitoring and more family satisfaction. Filial self-efficacy is yet to be examined in relation to adolescents’ engagement in bullying and underage drinking. This study aims to address this omission. Objective: This study examined the across time relationship between adolescents’ filial self-efficacy, bullying and alcohol use. Methods: A sample 307 Grade 8 Australian students (52% female, Mage = 13.51) completed a survey three times, with eight months between each time point. Structural equation models examined the relationship between filial self-efficacy, adolescent bullying and underage drinking across these time points. Filial self-efficacy, for mothers and fathers, was examined separately in each model. Results: Bullying predicted alcohol use at each subsequent time point. Adolescents’ low belief in their ability to manage their relationship with their mother was predicted by previous bullying, and predicted to future bullying. A similar relationship was not found for fathers. Implications and Conclusion: Having been a perpetrator of bullying places an adolescent at an increased risk of drinking alcohol underage. Therefore, reducing bullying perpetration may be an effective way to reduce underage drinking. While there is already a strong emphasis on parental communication and alcohol use, it may be even more important to target parental communication, and managing parental relationships in the context of bullying, especially with mothers, when attempting to reduce both bullying perpetration and underage drinking.
|
Conference Poster |
Are FEP services successful at engaging young immigrants in treatment? |
Clairélaine Ouellet-Plamondon |
|
Conference Poster |
How to care for the homeless: Describing the existing treatments for the psychotic homeless young adults, a systematic literature review |
Virginie Dore Gauthier |
"Background: Homelessness carries an increased risk of developing severe mental disorders and conversely psychosis is associated with homelessness.
In Montreal, approximately 15% of homeless people suffer from psychosis. The young ones are even more at risk. It hits them at a crucial time of their development while they should consolidate their personality and life choices.This population’s life conditions make it more difficult for mental health teams to engage them in treatment. In 2012, an intensive community care team (EQIIP SOL) was set-up to address the specific needs of young homeless adults (YHA) suffering from psychosis. Objectives: To determine functional and symptomatic outcome of YHA suffering from early psychosis and treated by a specialized assertive outreach community care team in Montreal Canada. Method Prospective longitudinal study of the impact of the addition of an assertive outreach team to a specialised early psychosis intervention clinic. Symptomatic (eg. PANSS, CDS, CGI) and functional outcome (eg. GAF, SOFAS, QOL) as well as service utilisation data has been collected at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months ResultsAbout 50 young adults have enrolled in the project EQIIP SOL. The data on demographic, symptomatic and functional evolution of this sample will be discussed as well as challenges in implantation of such a team. ConclusionYHA psychotic patients can be helped by a specialized team offering intensive integrated treatment in the community, which increases accessibility of mental health services and its effectiveness. Further research is warranted to compare this treatment team to treatments already available.
"
|
Conference Poster |
"Making Healthy Change Happen": Youth perspectives on mental health promotion programming delivered in schools by public health experts |
Tamara Do Amaral |
Background: The Mental Health Commission of Canada recognizes that children and youth need in-school mental health (MH) programming to support healthy development and promote resiliency into adulthood. The next phase of the Mental Health and Addiction Strategy involves a call to action to use public health expertise to promote MH and support services in schools. Consulting youth allows us to create programming that is tailored to the needs of this age group. Engaging youth can result in more positive health outcomes. Objective: To assess perceived impact, acceptability and feasibility of a 10-session evidence-based MH program delivered in school during Health and Physical Education by public health nurses in a small, all-girls peer group format. Method: Ninth grade females (n=47) were drawn from a larger SickKidsResults: Analysis revealed five themes. Among those themes, students reported gaining a greater sense of connectedness to their peers resulting from participating in the program. They reported a preference for interactive activities including role-play as a way to learn and practice coping strategies. Help with day-to-day issues encountered at school and with peers was a priority for the students. Some participants requested more detailed discussion about mental illness. longitudinal school-based prevention study led by Dr. McVey. Data was coded, grouped then analyzed thematically using qualitative software (MAXQDA). Conclusion: Peer connectedness is linked to assertiveness which in turn can enhance positive coping among youth. Involving youth in MH promotion planning is key to fostering their engagement in health-promoting behaviours, all of which can help to improve child and youth MH outcomes.
|
Conference Poster |
Youth Hans Kai: Strength-based approaches in resilience and recovery |
Stephanie Ens |
Hans Kai is a health program that began with adults in Japan that NorWest Co-op Community Health, a non-profit health agency in Winnipeg, Manitoba adapted to fit with youth living in Winnipeg. Hans Kai is based on the idea that people who spend time together monitoring their health will live longer, healthier lives. Using a strength-based approach that allows for individuals to take control over their health improves their resiliency and recovery.Hans Kai for youth includes objectives such as: creating social support networks; increasing youth knowledge around sexual health, drugs, alcohol, and smoking; increasing youth knowledge around physical and mental health and coping; and to support youth in making healthy choices around physical activity and diet. The overall goal for each Hans Kai group is that they continue to meet in a leaderless manner to support each other in good health.These objectives are carried out through Hans Kai Health Schools. Groups of youth meet for nine weeks, once a week for an hour each time and learn about various topics such as reproductive health, diet and exercise, mental health, drugs and alcohol, communication and relationships, and self-acceptance. Sessions are carried out by experts employed by NorWest Co-op Community Health such as kinesiologists, dieticians, nurses, and social workers. Sessions are interactive and include engaging activities and ample time for discussion. At the end of every session youth have the opportunity to provide written, anonymous feedback to help shape and inform the program. Youth Hans Kai has been running in Winnipeg for approximately one year the feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Youth are reporting increased awareness of health issues and are stating that their social support networks have increased. Youth engagement in the health schools has been high with many questions and lively discussions around each of the various topics. The adult Hans Kai program implemented by NorWest Co-op Community Health has shown statistically significant results in terms of increasing resiliency and recovery and it is our hope that this will be the case for the Youth Hans Kai program as well.
|
Conference Poster |
Gilbert Park Going Places: Community engagement |
Stephanie Ens |
Gilbert Park Going Places is an innovative mental health initiative designed for 9-14 year olds that promotes positive youth mental health through community engagement. The program was started in the year 2007 under the umbrella of a community health center in Winnipeg, Manitoba called NorWest Co-op Community Health as a way to provide services to a vulnerable population of young people who live in the social housing complex known as Gilbert Park which houses approximately 1000 residents who primarily identify as Aboriginal and Newcomer.The strategic plan for Gilbert Park Going Places includes objectives such as improving the anger management and problem solving skills of youth, increasing awareness of social programs, reducing bullying behavior, enhancing school performance, and increasing leadership and mentorship potential. The overall goal and impetus for the youth cent was to decrease the number of suicides and mental health issues and youth who become involved in gangs. To accomplish these goals and objectives NorWest Co-op Community Health partnered with Canadian gang expert and author of “Young Thugs”, Michael Chettleburgh (2007). Funding from various sources including the Government of Manitoba was secured and two social workers and two skill development workers were hired to carry out the objectives. The program operates six days a week from 3:30pm-7pm Monday-Friday and from 11:00am-5pm on Saturdays. A combination of skill development/recreation, mentorship, and leadership programs are carried out to ensure that youth feel a sense of belonging and start to seek help for some of their mental health issues. Because the program employs two social workers they are able to provide counselling and support groups that other after school programs are not able to offer. Each social worker has a counselling caseload of 40 people which can also include the parents of youth involved in the program. Gilbert Park Going Places has enjoyed numerous successes since its inception. Attendance for programs continues at capacity and many youth have graduated from various leadership opportunities and have continued to mentor youth younger than them. Youth have assumed leadership roles in cultural programming and last year hosted a Gilbert Park community Powwow with over 500 people in attendance. Overall suicide rates have decreased and police involvement in the community has also declined. Gilbert Park Going Places is a community based approach to improving youth mental health and preventing mental illness that has been shown to be effective.
|
Conference Poster |
Transitions: A mental health by stealth resource to help students navigate college & university life |
Stan Kutcher - Amy Mackay |
Transitions (http://teenmentalhealth.org/transitions) is a multi-platform resource that addresses issues such as Sexuality, Relationships, Financial Planning, Education & School work, Mental Health & Addictions and Suicide to name a few.In its second iteration, Transitions is currently making its away across post-secondary institutions across Canada, the United States and is now being sought after internationally with versions in French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish & Portuguese. A Grade 12 preparatory version has also been put forward as a request, along with an Aboriginal & First Nations version which hopes to address the diverse communities in Canada and elsewhere. Through initial research and evidence from the first iteration, to the design, development and multi-platform delivery channels, including Mobile (as an App and an as eBook), Web (as an online publication), Print (as a full printed book and as a smaller pocket version of the same), along with marketing collateral that has included video adverts to stickers to postcards to t-shirts, Transitions is not just being implemented as a Program across institutions but is also being recognized and sought by Youth, Parents, Educators & Healthcare Professionals alike. In a recent study conducted with high school students and at Dalhousie University the following were findings that came across loud and clear: 87.8% found Transitions helpful64.6% found more prepared for college or university after reading Transitions72% found that their knowledge about mental health and mental illness improved since reading Transitions89.1% indicated that they would recommend Transitions to someone they knew84.2% was now comfortable having someone with mental illness in their class. 83% felt more comfortable seeking out for help for a mental health concern after reading Transitions85.3% felt they could suggest to someone they knew to get help after reading Transitions should they need it for a mental health concern. Transitions is clearly making an impact in the community it is designed to support and is making its way internationally in it various forms. As it continues to evolve with varying versions for the various demographics it is hoped that Transitions will be available to every youth making this transition at this critical juncture in their life.
|
Conference Poster |
Parents' and peers' responses to adolescent depression: The development of the Intentions to Provide Mental Health Support Scale |
Sadhbh Byrne |
Introduction or Rationale:Research has consistently indicated that young people with depression are unlikely to seek professional support. Instead, many depressed adolescents state that they prefer informal support from members of their social network, such as parents and friends. This informal support is hypothesised to then impact mental health service utilisation. However, more needs to be understood about how parents and peers respond to the symptoms of depression in adolescence. This is compounded by the absence of a standardised and validated instrument that can measure parents’ and peers’ responses. Objectives (of project and or research): This research aimed to develop an Intentions to Provide Mental Health Support Scale, and pilot the scale with a representative sample of parents and young people. This pilot study is conducted with the aim of informing a wider study on the factors that may be associated with parents’ and peers’ responses to adolescent depression. It is proposed that the development of this instrument will help to standardise the measurement of knowledge of appropriate help – a key component of mental health literacy (Jorm et al., 1997). Methods or Approach: For this study, the target construct was defined, and an item pool was developed based on questions used in previous research to assess help-giving intentions. The resulting items consisted of statements that reflected an intention to carry out a certain action, paired with a four-point ‘Extremely unlikely’ to ‘Extremely likely’ response scale. This instrument was piloted as part of a questionnaire assessing factors associated with responses to depression, such as empathy. Young people aged 12-18 years were recruited through purposive sampling of a post-primary school in County Carlow, Republic of Ireland. Their parents were also recruited through communication via the school. Results or Practice/Policy Implications: Results of the pilot study will be reported. It is proposed that the development of this instrument will lead to more detailed knowledge on informal helping responses, which will impact on mental health education policies and practices, and service utilisation promotion. Conclusion: The development of the Intentions to Provide Mental Health Support Scale will facilitate research that explores the informal support offered by members of an individuals’ social network. Continued validation and reliability analyses will determine the final version of the instrument. Future research will also help to assess whether intentions to provide support are associated with other factors such as sex, age, and empathy.
|
Conference Poster |
Can school-based mental health programmes reduce anxiety in children? Results from a UK randomised controlled trial evaluating the FRIENDS cognitive behaviour therapy programme |
Paul Stallard |
Schools provide a natural and convenient location for delivering universal emotional health prevention programmes for children. Universal programmes are non-stigmatising, can be more readily accommodated within school timetables and provide opportunities for symptom reduction and primary prevention. However before such programmes are widely adopted appropriately sized implementation trials are required to determine whether these programmes are effective when delivered under everyday conditions. Preventing Anxiety in Children through Education in Schools (PACES) is a three armed cluster randomised controlled trial conducted in UK primary schools. The study evaluated the effectiveness of a universally provided anxiety prevention programme (FRIENDS) delivered by school and health staff compared with usual school provision. FRIENDS is a cognitive behaviour therapy programme designed to teach children skills to counter the cognitive, emotional and behavioural aspects of anxiety. 45 schools were enrolled, 41 consented to participate with 1 withdrawing after randomisation. The remaining 40 schools had 1448 eligible participants i.e. children aged 9-10 attending school. A total of 1362 (94%) consented to participate, 1339 (98%) completed baseline assessment with 1257 (92%) completing 12 month assessments. Our primary outcome was anxiety assessed by the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). At 12 months there was a difference in adjusted mean child-reported RCADS scores for health-led versus school-led FRIENDS (19·49 [SD 14·81vs 22·86 [15·24]; adjusted difference –3·91, 95% CI –6·48 to –1·35; p=0·0004) and health-led FRIENDS versus usual school provision (19·49 [14·81] vs 22·48 [15·74]; –2·66, –5·22 to –0·09; p=0·043). Our results suggest that universal anxiety prevention programmes can be effective when used in schools. However, programme effectiveness varies depending on who delivers them. References: Stallard P, Skryabina E, Taylor G, Phillips R, Daniels H, Anderson R & Simpson N. Classroom-based cognitive behaviour therapy (FRIENDS): a cluster randomised controlled trial to Prevent Anxiety in Children through Education in Schools (PACES). Lancet Psychiatry 2014: 1 (3); 185-192. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70244-5Stallard P, Taylor G, Anderson R, Daniels H, Simpson N, Phillips R & Skryabina E. School based intervention to reduce anxiety in children: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial (PACES). TRIALS. 2012, 13:227. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-13-227.
|
Conference Poster |