Journal article
Mental health first aid training of the public in a rural area: a cluster randomized trial [ISRCTN53887541]
Anthony F Jorm, Betty A Kitchener, Richard O'Kearney, Keith BG Dear
BMC PSYCHIATRY | BIOMED CENTRAL LTD | Published : 2004
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A Mental Health First Aid course has been developed which trains members of the public in how to give initial help in mental health crisis situations and to support people developing mental health problems. This course has previously been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial in a workplace setting and found to produce a number of positive effects. However, this was an efficacy trial under relatively ideal conditions. Here we report the results of an effectiveness trial in which the course is given under more typical conditions. METHODS: The course was taught to members of the public in a large rural area in Australia by staff of an area health service. The 16 Local Governme..
View full abstractGrants
Funding Acknowledgements
Thanks to Karen Peterson who coordinated the implementation of the Mental Health First Aid courses within the Southern Area Health Service, to Kelly Blewitt for assistance with data management, to Ailsa Korten for help with the power analysis, to the five telephone interviewers, to Mr Greg Alridge Area Director of the Southern Area Mental Health Service and Dr Ian White Director of the Southern Area Health Promotion Unit for assisting with organisation support for the trial, and to the five instructors: Len Kanowski, Jennie Lampard, Tina Philip, Karen Peterson and Tracie Storay. Funding was provided by the Health Promotion Demonstration Research Grants Scheme from the New South Wales Department of Health, a National Health and Medical Research Council Research Fellowship and Program Grant, and a grant from ACT Health and Community Care.