School-based health promotion to improve mental health literacy: a comparative study of peer- versus adult-led delivery

Abstract

Background

School-based youth mental health promotion is increasingly recognised as a useful tool to improve mental health knowledge and help-seeking among adolescents. Peer-led initiatives are emerging as a potentially viable mode of delivering this material. Yet, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of these initiatives compared to more traditional, adult-led, forms of mental health promotion.

Aims

This study aimed to compare improvements in students’ mental health knowledge and help-seeking after attending either a peer- or adult-led youth mental health promotion workshop. It also sought to examine differential effects by gender.

Method

A within- and between-group comparative design was used to examine secondary school students’ (N = 536) mental health knowledge and help-seeking intentions before and after attending a school-based mental health promotion workshop.

Results

Students’ mental health knowledge and help-seeking intentions significantly improved in both peer- and adult-led groups. Outcomes did not differ across modes of delivery, although the impact of adult-led workshops on mental health knowledge was moderated by gender.

Conclusions

Peer-led youth mental health promotion appears to be as effective as traditional adult-led delivery, and seems to be particularly beneficial for male students who respond more favourably to content communicated through their peers.

Keywords:

• Peer education
• mental health literacy
• help-seeking
• mental health promotion

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the young people who took part in the study, the peer educators and Jigsaw staff involved in the delivery of the peer- and adult-led ITTST workshops, and the staff involved in the design and evaluation of the workshops. In particular, the authors would like to acknowledge input from Alanna Donnelly, Jennifer Rogers, Genevieve Ruiz O’Sullivan and Dr Lynsey O’Keeffe.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was conducted with support from the Health Service Executive (HSE).