A school based mental health programme delivered via the internet : an evaluation study

• Main Author: Delgado, Kira
• Published: Royal Holloway, University of London 2011
• Subjects: 371.713
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.588598

The aim of this research was to implement and evaluate the efficacy of an internet-based depression prevention programme (Mood GYM) in a UK adolescent sample, with a particular focus on its impact on measures of general well-being and other 'strength' based measures. It was hoped that the inclusion of positive, strength-based outcome measures may help to determine MoodGYM'spotential usefulness as a mental health promotion resource for young people in the UK. While previous research suggests that some depression prevention programmes are effective, little is known about their cross cultural applicability here in the UK, as most have been developed abroad. Most of these programmes are also largely unsustainable due to the significant resources they require. Finally, the potential mental health 'promotional' effects of most of these programmes have yet to be explored, which inhibits understanding of their universal applicability and subsequent widespread implementation. Using a quasi-experimental design, adolescent participants were allocated to either the intervention (MoodGYM) or the control condition. Participants completed standardized measures of well-being, cognitive coping strategies, depression and anxiety, at pre- intervention, post-intervention and at a 12 week follow up. While a reasonable retention rate was observed in the intervention group, attrition was high in the control group, necessitating the recruitment of a further control group. This resulted in a lack of control group data at the follow up stage. Participants in the MoodGYM condition reported a significant reduction in levels of anxiety and maladaptive cognitive coping strategies, relative to controls, an effect which was maintained at follow up. The MoodGYM participants also reported a significant increase in positive affect and a significant decrease in depression at the follow up stage. No significant effects emerged on levels of negative affect or adaptive cognitive coping strategies. Furthermore, contradictory results were observed for levels of life satisfaction.