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. 2019 Oct 17;29:e58. doi: 10.1017/S2045796019000544
Universal school-based interventions targeting the general population
No. First author, year/country N enrolled/analysed Age Setting Targeted population Target condition Intervention description Intervention duration Assessment time point(s) Outcomes studied
1 Aseltine, 2007/USA 4491/3837–3899 14–18 School Students Suicide Two-part suicide prevention program: (1) curriculum via video with dramatisations, interviews and guidelines including discussion guide over half of the school year; (2) screening on depression and suicidality symptoms 2 days 3 months
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    Help-seeking

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    Accessing care

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    Health outcomes
2 Campos, 2018/Portugal 543/387 12–14 School Students General mental health problems Interactive two-session educational curriculum that explored students' knowledge and beliefs about physical and mental health and illness, identified risk factors and symptoms of mental disorders as well as help-seeking options, promoted non-stigmatised behaviours and inadequate beliefs related to mental disorders and addressed self-help strategies and mental health-promoting behaviour Two 90-min sessions (1 week apart)
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    1 week (post-intervention)

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    6 months

  • Knowledge
3 Hart, 2018/Australia 1942/1116 15–18 School Student peers, parents and teachers General mental health problems Three standardised pyschoeducation sessions via program booklet, presentations, videos, role-plays, group and workbook activities and final certificate for peer training to help adolescents with a mental health problem 3 weeks 1 week
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    Knowledge

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    Attitudes

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    Intentions
4 Howard, 2018/Australia 350/327 16–19 School Students Depression Two brief online educational interventions consisting of one page of a vignette about a person with depression: a biological condition describing the biological causes of depression and a psychosocial condition describing the psychosocial causes of depression Single time point Directly post-intervention

  • Intensions
5 Husky, 2011/USA 890/656 14–15 School Students General mental health problems Brief, two-stage mental health screening via questionnaire and structured interview; referrals to mental health care were provided for those who screened positive Single time point 3–5 months
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    Help-seeking

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    Accessing care
6 Jorm, 2010/Australia 423/327 12–15 School Teachers General mental health problems Two day-long teacher training sessions on common mental health disorders, school policy on mental health issues and how to assist students in need Two days
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    Directly post-intervention

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    6 months
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    Knowledge

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    Attitudes

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    Intentions

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    Action taken

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    Health outcomes
7 Klingman, 1993/Israel 237/76 12–13 School Student peers Mental distress and suicide Twelve weekly sessions delivering an educational curriculum on mental distress and disorders, help-seeking and prevention via theoretical component, role-playing and rehearsing new skills 12 weeks 2 weeks

  • Knowledge
8 Morgan, 2019/Australia 384/322 12–15 School Parents of adolescents General mental health problems A 14-h standardised pyschoeducation and training program for parents of adolescents to learn to recognise early signs of a mental health problem or crisis and to assist adolescents to access appropriate professional help as early as possible Two sessions over four months
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    1 year

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    2 years
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    Attitudes

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    Intensions

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    Action taken

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    Help-seeking

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    Health outcomes
9 Painter, 2017/USA 751/721 10–13 School Students General mental health problems Three-hour educational curriculum on stigma, mental illness and barriers to help-seeking via presentation, class discussion and video and presentation and discussion with a mentally ill college student ⩽1 week 1 week
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    Knowledge

  • –

    Attitudes
10 Perry, 2014/Australia 380/208 13–16 School Students General mental health problems Ten hour of educational curriculum delivered over 5–8 weeks; resources for teachers delivering intervention included a booklet, slideshow and appendices on mental health, mood disorders and on helping others and oneself 5–8 weeks
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    Post-intervention

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    6 months
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    Attitudes

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    Health outcomes
11 Saporito, 2011/USA 159/156 15–19 School Students General mental health problems A35-min presentation on mental illness and its treatment plus video on an adolescent with a mental illness Single time point Directly post-intervention
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    Attitudes

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    Health outcomes
12 Sayal, 2010/UK 1662/487 4–5 School Students and teachers Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder School-based screening to identify children with high ADHD rating scale scores and a book about ADHD and how to manage and work with affected children Single time point 5 years
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    Accessing care

  • –

    Health outcomes
13 Sharpe, 2017/UK 27▫885/ 14▫690 10–13 School Students General mental health problems Booklets on mental health and disorders and help-seeking for students Single time point 12 months
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    Help-seeking

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    Health outcomes