Prevention and Early Identification for High Risk Youth in School-based Clinics

Launched by CAMBRIDGE HEALTH ALLIANCE · Jun 15, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called "Prevention and Early Identification for High Risk Youth in School-based Clinics," is focused on helping young people from diverse backgrounds who may be at risk for mental health issues. The researchers aim to find new ways to identify and support these youths early on, particularly in communities that often face barriers to accessing mental health care, like transportation or language challenges. By using online tools for screening in schools and community settings, the study hopes to understand how difficult circumstances, such as economic hardship, can affect young people's mental well-being.

To participate, students must be high schoolers living in certain areas like Cambridge or Chelsea, and they should be fluent in English, Haitian-Creole, Portuguese, or Spanish. However, 12th-graders and those already receiving mental health care or in urgent need of help will not be included. Participants can expect to take part in activities designed to strengthen their resilience—essentially, their ability to bounce back from tough times. This study is important because it seeks to address mental health issues at a time when many young people may be struggling due to social and economic challenges.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria for COPE2Thrive:
• • High school students in CHA's catchment area (Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Revere, Somerville, Winthrop)
• • Youth who are fluent in English, Haitian-Creole, Portuguese, or Spanish.
• • Youth who have completed WFIRS and K-CAT, and who do not meet the exclusion criteria.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 12th-graders will be excluded from the COPE2Thrive program since the participants will not be available for the study's duration.
• • Students who are already receiving behavioral health care.
• • Students who are considered to be seriously suicidal and in need of urgent care, in which case the participants would be ineligible based on the fact that the participants will be receiving behavioral health care.