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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015:2015:345926.
doi: 10.1155/2015/345926. Epub 2015 Aug 25.

A Universal Mental Health Promotion Programme for Young People in Italy

Antonella Gigantesco  1 , Debora Del Re  1 , Isabella Cascavilla  1 , Gabriella Palumbo  1 , Barbara De Mei  1 , Chiara Cattaneo  1 , Ilaria Giovannelli  1 , Antonino Bella  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Universal Mental Health Promotion Programme for Young People in Italy

Antonella Gigantesco et al. Biomed Res Int. 2015.

Abstract

In Italy, the Mental Health Unit of the National Institute of Public Health has developed a school-based mental health programme based on a structured handbook. The aim of this programme is to promote self-efficacy, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of this programme. We used data from 308 students who participated in a study in 9 Italian high schools during the 2011-2012 school year. In order to analyse the school intervention programme, we set up a pre-post test design study involving 18 classrooms (8 of which acting as a control). The schools were selected via a snowball technique, and then the classrooms that agreed to participate were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The programme was performed during regular school hours in one-hour a week sessions for a total of 20 hours of classroom time. Assessments before and 2 months after the programme were performed using Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy, Satisfaction With Life, and Ryff's Psychological Well-Being Scales. The results showed an improvement in self-efficacy in regulating negative affect, overall psychological well-being, and satisfaction with life. These results demonstrate that the programme produced significant positive effects on the mental health status of participating students.

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Figures

Box 1
Box 1
Box 1: Units of the student manual for mental-health promotion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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