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Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid training in Denmark: a randomized trial in waitlist design

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To examine the effect of the Australian educational intervention Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in a Danish context. Primary outcome was improvement concerning confidence in help-giving behavior towards people suffering from mental illness. Secondary outcomes were increased knowledge and ability to recognize mental illness and improved positive attitudes towards people suffering from mental health problems.

Method

Study design was a randomized trial with a waitlist control group. The intervention group was compared with the control group at 6-month follow-up. Both groups completed at baseline and at 6-month follow-up.

Results

A significant difference was found between employees trained in the intervention group compared to the control group at 6-month follow-up on the items of confidence in making contact to (Cohen’s d 0.17), talking to (Cohen’s d 0.18) and providing help to (Cohen’s d 0.31) people suffering from a mental health illness. Further, participants improved in knowledge (Cohen’s d depression vignette 0.40/Cohen’s d schizophrenia vignette 0.32) and in the ability to recognize schizophrenia OR = 1.75 (95 % CI 1.00–3.05), p = 0.05. A significant difference between the intervention group and control group at follow-up concerning actual help offered was not found. Changes in attitudes were limited.

Conclusion

The MHFA training was effective in a Danish context.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the Danish foundation TrygFonden. The authors thank Ditte Marie Madsen, coordinator in the Mental Health Foundation in Denmark, for systematic and persistent efforts in the project. The protocol and grant application for this trial was performed by PBV and MN. The implementation and performance of the MHFA training course was conducted by the Mental Health Foundation in Denmark. The collection of data was performed by KBJ and BRM. The analyses were performed by KBJ and CH at Copenhagen University Hospital, Research Unit, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Denmark. The drafting of the manuscript was performed by KBJ, CH, BRM, PBV and MN. The protocol can be obtained by emailing corresponding author: britt.reuter.morthorst@regionh.dk. The protocol was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov on the 25th of April 2015, identifier NCT02334020.

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Correspondence to Britt Reuter Morthorst.

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Conflict of interest

Co-author Per B. Vendsborg is an employee at the Mental Health Foundation in Denmark, the organization that implements and sells the MHFA training course. The other authors have no conflict of interests.

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Jensen, K.B., Morthorst, B.R., Vendsborg, P.B. et al. Effectiveness of Mental Health First Aid training in Denmark: a randomized trial in waitlist design. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 51, 597–606 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1176-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1176-9

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