title: Initial Findings from a Novel School-Based Program, EMPATHY, Which May Help Reduce Depression and Suicidality in Youth.
abstract: We describe initial pilot findings from a novel school-based approach to reduce youth depression and suicidality, the Empowering a Multimodal Pathway Towards Healthy Youth (EMPATHY) program. Here we present the findings from the pilot cohort of 3,244 youth aged 11-18 (Grades 6-12). They were screened for depression, suicidality, anxiety, use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco (DAT), quality-of-life, and self-esteem. Additionally, all students in Grades 7 and 8 (mean ages 12.3 and 13.3 respectively) also received an 8-session cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) based program designed to increase resiliency to depression. Following screening there were rapid interventions for the 125 students (3.9%) who were identified as being actively suicidal, as well as for another 378 students (11.7%) who were felt to be at higher-risk of self-harm based on a combination of scores from all the scales. The intervention consisted of an interview with the student and their family followed by offering a guided internet-based CBT program. Results from the 2,790 students who completed scales at both baseline and 12-week follow-up showed significant decreases in depression and suicidality. Importantly, there was a marked decrease in the number of students who were actively suicidal (from n=125 at baseline to n=30 at 12-weeks). Of the 503 students offered the CBT program 163 (32%) took part, and this group had significantly lower depression scores compared to those who didn't take part. There were no improvements in self-esteem, quality-of-life, or the number of students using DAT. Only 60 students (2% of total screened) required external referral during the 24-weeks following study initiation. These results suggest that a multimodal school-based program may provide an effective and pragmatic approach to help reduce youth depression and suicidality. Further research is required to determine longer-term efficacy, reproducibility, and key program elements.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02169960.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada; Strategic Clinical Network for Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Finance and Statistical Analysis, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Silverstone
authors.affiliation: Strategic Clinical Network for Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Marni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bercov
authors.affiliation: Strategic Clinical Network for Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Victoria Y M
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Suen
authors.affiliation: Strategic Clinical Network for Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Department of Finance and Statistical Analysis, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: Ivor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cribben
authors.affiliation: Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goodrick
authors.affiliation: Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Stu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: Strategic Clinical Network for Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pryce
authors.affiliation: Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langstraat
authors.affiliation: Strategic Clinical Network for Addiction and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rittenbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Faculty of Art, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: Samprita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.affiliation: Trimbos-Institute, P.O. Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rutger C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine and Public Health, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCabe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001007:Anxiety; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012574:Schools; D012649:Self Concept; D012907:Smoking; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention