title: The Effectiveness and Sustainability of a Universal School-Based Programme for Preventing Depression in Chinese Adolescents: A Follow-Up Study Using Quasi-Experimental Design.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A pilot study about the effectiveness of a universal school-based programme, "The Little Prince is Depressed", for preventing depression in Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong was conducted and reported previously. This study used a larger sample to examine the effectiveness and sustainability of the programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used quasi-experimental design. Twelve schools enrolled in "The Little Prince is Depressed" programme either as an intervention or a control condition. The intervention schools carried out the 12-session programme in two phases: the professional-led first phase and the teacher-led second phase. All participants were required to complete a questionnaire at three time points measuring their (1) depressive, anxiety, and stress levels; (2) knowledge of mental health; (3) attitudes towards mental illness; (4) perceived social support; and (5) help-seeking behaviours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3,391 students participated in the study. The level of depressive symptoms did not reduce significantly at post-intervention; however, a delayed effect was observed at follow-up assessment for the participants of the teacher-led group in reducing anxiety and stress levels. Also, the knowledge of mental health and attitudes towards mental illness of the intervention-group participants significantly improved at post-test, and the outcomes were maintained at 4 to 5 months after the intervention in both the professional-led and the teacher-led conditions (p<.05). A preference among schoolchildren for whom to seek help from was identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The universal depression prevention programme was effective in enhancing knowledge of mental health and promoting a more positive attitude towards mental illness among adolescents in Hong Kong. In particular, the teacher-led group showed better outcomes than the professional-led group in reducing students' anxiety and stress at follow-up period. The programme can achieve sustainability in schools if teachers are provided with adequate support.
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Eliza S Y
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chi-Leung
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Paul W C
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Journalism and Media Studies Centre, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: King-Wa
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Yik-Wa
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Law
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Department of Social Work and Social Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Paul S F
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yip
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology