Adapting Mental Health Interventions for War-Affected Youth Through Employment Programs (NCT02561949) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Adapting Mental Health Interventions for War-Affected Youth Through Employment Programs
Sierra Leone80 participantsStarted 2015-09
Plain-language summary
The research will first examine data obtained from YRI participants to investigate effects of the group sessions on psychosocial functioning outcomes in youth aged 15 - 24. The research also intends to examine whether youth participating in YRI and complementary income generating activities will fare better than an employment only control group. Finally, the research intends to examine whether utilizing lay health workers are a is cost-effective and scalable method for addressing mental health concerns.
The research will investigate the following hypotheses:
1. Participants who are exposed to YRI will demonstrate greater reduction in mental health and behavioral problems than participants who are waitlisted for YRI over the same period; emotion regulation will operate as a major mechanism of YRI improvements; high comorbidity will be a treatment modifier;
2. Improvements in mental health and functioning due to YRI will lead to (mediate) greater employment outcomes and superior economic self-sufficiency over time; and
3. Homelessness, orphanhood, young parenthood, and high problems in emotion regulation co-morbid with other mental health conditions will be major moderators lessening the effectiveness of YRI.
4. Lay and trained practitioners at agencies participating in the combined mental health-employment program will demonstrate high fidelity to evidence-based treatment components and that good satisfaction, social support, and professional exchange of evidence-based practices will emerge.
Who can participate
Age range15 Years – 24 Years
SexALL
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Inclusion criteria
✓. Participants must be between the ages 15-24 (UN definition of youth);
✓. Participants must have an elevated score on internalizing (depression/anxiety) or externalizing (aggression/ hostility) on a measure validated for use in Sierra Leone;
✓. Participants must report some impairment in daily functioning as a result of emotional or behavior problems based on a series of questions adapted from the WHODAS; and
✓. Participants must neither be enrolled in school nor have gainful employment of 20 or more hours of work per week over the past four weeks.
Exclusion criteria
✕. Participant fails to meet the age requirements;
✕. Participant is either currently enrolled in school or has gainful employment of 20 hours or more of work per week over the past four weeks;
✕. Participant is not in favor of joining an employment program;
✕. Participants does not have an elevated score on internalizing (depression/anxiety) or externalizing (aggression/ hostility) on a measure validated for use in Sierra Leone;
What they're measuring
1
Change in % of youth with improved health outcomes
Timeframe: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months
✕. Participant does not report some impairment in daily functioning as a result of emotional or behavior problems based on a series of questions adapted from the WHODAS;
✕. Participant identified by clinical staff as: (a) experiencing suicidality, or (b) psychosis.