Comprehensive Program for Youth Mental Health (EMPATHY)

The majority of addiction and mental health problems seen in adults present first in youth. There is strong evidence that prevention and early identification during childhood can mitigate some of these risks. Students who screen at risk for the development of mental illness will be offered online intervention programs with personal guidance from a trained coach. In addition, lessons revolving around resiliency will be provided to all students. The objectives of this study are: Decreased rates of depression and suicide (as well as rates of suicide attempts) Decreased use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, with additional downstream benefits such as reduced rates of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and cancer Decreased school drop-out rates Decreased rates of interactions with the justice system Decreased costs across a range of ministries (health, education, justice, human services), both for youth as well as their families who have been involved in this program

OVK Resiliency Training Program - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy designed to modify negative thoughts and feelings. This program also includes a social problem-solving component.

No intervention - no Resiliency training, no online intervention for high school students who do not score at risk for development of mental health issues

Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic X-factor thoughts (SPARX), Breaking Free, This Way Up online interventions offered to middle school students who score in the Top 10% of their grade for development of mental health issues. OVK Resiliency Training is also provided.

Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic X-factor thoughts (SPARX), Breaking Free, This Way Up online interventions offered to middle school students who score in the Top 10% of their grade for development of mental health issues.

This will be based on scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire for Adolescents (PHQ-A) questionnaire

Will be tracking the School identification numbers of the students in order to determine how many drop out prior to graduation. This will be compared with historical data from Red Deer Public Schools.

Will be linking with a data groups' repository as well as ministries in order to determine rates of interactions with the justice system.

Inclusion Criteria: The intervention group will be the top 10% of all students participating in the school screening. Exclusion Criteria: Lack of consent, lack of assent, lack of the ability to read and understand the screening tools or intervention tools

Tak YR, Van Zundert RM, Kuijpers RC, Van Vlokhoven BS, Rensink HF, Engels RC. A randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a universal school-based depression prevention program 'Op Volle Kracht' in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health. 2012 Jan 10;12:21. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-21.

Silverstone PH, Bercov M, Suen VY, Allen A, Cribben I, Goodrick J, Henry S, Pryce C, Langstraat P, Rittenbach K, Chakraborty S, Engels RC, McCabe C. Initial Findings from a Novel School-Based Program, EMPATHY, Which May Help Reduce Depression and Suicidality in Youth. PLoS One. 2015 May 14;10(5):e0125527. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125527. eCollection 2015.