African Youth in Mind (Y-MIND) - Pilot Feasibility Trial of a Brief Psychological Intervention for Older Adolescents with Depression Delivered Through Senior High Schools in Navrongo, Ghana

Launched by KING'S COLLEGE LONDON · Dec 17, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Y-MIND trial is a study designed to explore a new way to help older teenagers in Ghana who are experiencing depression. The goal is to see if a brief psychological intervention, called Y-MIND, can be effectively delivered by school guidance counselors to students aged 15 to 18 in senior high schools. In this trial, students will be randomly assigned to either receive the Y-MIND intervention, which includes support and strategies to manage their feelings, or continue with standard care, which typically involves less structured support.

To participate in the study, teenagers need to be between 15 and 18 years old, attend a senior high school in specific areas of Ghana, and have a certain level of depression as indicated by a questionnaire. They should also be able to communicate in English. Participants can expect to engage in the Y-MIND program over a period of five months, with follow-up to check on their progress. It's important to note that those currently receiving other psychological treatments or with certain mental health conditions may not be eligible for this study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adolescents aged 15 to 18 years in senior high schools located within the Kassena-Nankana Municipality and Kassena-Nankana West District
• • Have scored 10 or more on the locally validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
• • be willing and able to be followed up for 5 months and provide informed consent or assent
• • For adolescents 15-17 years participants must have 5) access to a caregiver to obtain informed consent
• • All participants must have the ability to read, write and communicate in English language.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • are currently receiving any psychological treatment (talking therapy) for any common mental disorder through formal health care services
• • have active bipolar disorder or psychosis (assessed through a brief screening tool for bipolar disorder and psychosis)
• • have advanced or chronic physical illness (assessed through self-report)
• • have significant visual or hearing impairment which would interfere with their ability to take part in the study
• • are actively suicidal (assessed through the use of a four-item screening tool administered by a psychiatric nurse and reviewed by the trial clinical psychologist