MICHELSON_BMJ_Oct_2020.pdf (807.97 kB)
App-based guided problem-solving intervention for adolescent mental health: a pilot cohort study in Indian schools
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 22:20 authored by Pattie Pramila Gonsalves, Eleanor Sara Hodgson, Bhargav Bhat, Rhea Sharma, Abhijeet Jambhale, Daniel Michelson, Vikram PatelBackground This paper describes the pilot evaluation of ‘POD Adventures’, a lay counsellor-guided problem-solving intervention delivered via a smartphone app in Indian secondary schools. Objective To test the feasibility and acceptability of POD Adventures for adolescents with a felt need for psychological support, and to explore the intervention’s effects on self-reported mental health symptoms, prioritised problems, stress and well-being. Methods We used a mixed-methods pre-post cohort design. Participants were self-referred from grades 9–12 in two coeducational government-aided secondary schools in Goa, India. The intervention was delivered in two formats, ‘mixed’ (comprising individual and small group sessions) and ‘group’ (small group sessions only). Findings 248 participants enrolled in the study and 230 (92.7%) completed the intervention. Outcomes at 4 weeks showed significant improvements on all measures that were maintained at 12 weeks. Large effects were observed on problem severity scores (4 weeks, d=1.47; 12 weeks, d=1.53) while small to moderate effects were seen on mental health symptoms, stress and well-being. 22 students completed qualitative interviews about their experience of the intervention. Participants found POD Adventures easy to use, engaging and helpful in solving their problems. They were satisfied with the guidance provided by the counsellor irrespective of delivery format. Conclusions POD Adventures was feasible to deliver with guidance from lay counsellors in Indian schools, acceptable to participants and associated with large improvements in problem severity and mental health symptom severity. Clinical implications POD Adventures has promise as an early intervention for adolescents with a felt need for psychological support in low-resource settings.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Evidence-Based Mental HealthISSN
1362-0347Publisher
BMJ Publishing GroupExternal DOI
Page range
1-8Event location
EnglandDepartment affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-12-02First Open Access (FOA) Date
2020-12-02First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-12-02Usage metrics
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