Mentoring Program for Mental Health
(SMART Trial)
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: < 18
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago
Disqualifiers: Non-English speaking parents, Cognitive difficulties
Stay on Your Current Meds
No Placebo Group
Approved in 1 Jurisdiction
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?
The goal of this clinical trial is to test effects of the Great Life Mentoring (GLM) program on the mental health and adaptive functioning on school-age youth (ages 9-16) from low-income families who are receiving outpatient mental health services. The main questions it aims to answer are: • Does participation in the GLM program improve mental health and related outcomes among school-age youth (9- to 16-years-old) from low-income families as an adjunct to outpatient mental health services? 180 youth will be enrolled in the study and assigned randomly to either continue mental health services as usual (SAU) or to continue mental health services while also participating in GLM (SAU+GLM). Participating youth, and their parent/guardians and therapists, will be surveyed annually. Mental health services records also will be obtained with appropriate permissions. . Researchers will compare the SAU and SAU+GLM groups to see if participation in GLM has an effect on the mental health and related outcomes of study youth.
Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?
The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue your current mental health treatments while participating.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Great Life Mentoring (GLM) for mental health?
Research shows that mentoring can help improve mental health and quality of life, as seen in medical students and at-risk youth. Mentoring programs have been found to enhance personal development and support positive changes in young people, which suggests that GLM could be beneficial for mental health.12345
Is the Mentoring Program for Mental Health safe for participants?
There is no specific safety data available for the Mentoring Program for Mental Health or its related names like Great Life Mentoring, GLM, or 4Results Mentoring. However, in general, behavioral health interventions often have limited monitoring for adverse events, which means potential side effects might not be fully documented.678910
How does the Mentoring Program for Mental Health differ from other treatments for mental health conditions?
The Mentoring Program for Mental Health is unique because it uses a peer mentor approach, where individuals with similar experiences provide support and guidance, enhancing traditional mental health interventions. This method focuses on community involvement and personal connection, which can be more relatable and supportive for participants compared to standard clinical treatments.1112131415
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for school-age youth, ages 9-16, from low-income families who are currently receiving outpatient mental health services. To participate, they must have consent from their parent or guardian and agree to annual surveys as well as sharing their mental health service records.Inclusion Criteria
Youth meets eligibility criteria for the Great Life Mentoring program, which include receiving publically-subsidized outpatient mental health care
I am between 9 and 16 years old.
Exclusion Criteria
My parents' first language is not English.
I do not have cognitive difficulties that prevent me from completing study tasks.
Trial Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
2-4 weeks
Treatment
Participants receive outpatient mental health services with or without the Great Life Mentoring (GLM) program for an average of 2 years
2 years
Weekly community meetings with mentors for GLM group
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for mental health outcomes and adaptive functioning annually
1 year
Annual surveys and mental health records review
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Great Life Mentoring (Behavioral Intervention)
Trial OverviewThe study is testing the Great Life Mentoring (GLM) program's impact on improving mental health and adaptive functioning in youths. Participants will either continue with standard outpatient services (SAU) or receive SAU plus GLM. The two groups' outcomes will be compared over time.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: GLM + Services as UsualExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The Great Life Mentoring program (GLM) provides volunteer-based mentoring for school-age youth from low-resource families who are receiving outpatient mental health care. Each youth is paired with a mentor with whom they spend time in the community on a weekly basis for at least one year. Mentors are required to complete a 20-hour intensive training prior to being paired with a youth. Mentors also receive monthly in-person supervision from GLM staff for the first year of their meetings, which continues on an as-needed basis thereafter. Training and supervision are geared toward the unique opportunities and challenges that can occur when mentoring a youth with mental health needs. The goal is for the mentor to become an integral part of the child's mental health treatment, but the mentoring relationship is also sustained after treatment ends.
Group II: Services as UsualActive Control1 Intervention
Outpatient mental health services as usual
Find a Clinic Near You
Research Locations NearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Illinois at ChicagoLead Sponsor
Herrera Consulting Group, LLCCollaborator
References
Implementation of a Longitudinal Mentorship Program for Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Motivation of Brazilian Medical Students. [2021]Mentoring has been used as a strategy for mental health prevention and the promotion of quality of life in medical students, with mixed results. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of mental health, quality of life, and academic motivation of medical students after implementation of a longitudinal curricular mentoring program relative to those students without mentoring in their curricula.
Supporting Mentoring Relationships of Youth in Foster Care: Do Program Practices Predict Match Length? [2019]Implementation of research- and safety-based program practices enhance the longevity of mentoring relationships, in general; however, little is known about how mentoring programs might support the relationships of mentees in foster care. Benchmark program practices and Standards in the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring, 3rd Edition (MENTOR, 2009) were assessed in the current study as predictors of match longevity. Secondary data analyses were conducted on a national agency information management database from 216 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies serving 641 youth in foster care and 70,067 youth not in care from across the United States (Mean = 11.59 years old at the beginning of their matches) in one-to-one, community-based (55.06%) and school- or site-based (44.94%) matches. Mentees in foster care had shorter matches and matches that were more likely to close prematurely than mentees who were not in foster care. Agency leaders from 32 programs completed a web-based survey describing their policies and practices. The sum total numbers of Benchmark program practices and Standards were associated with match length for 208 mentees in foster care; however, neither predicted premature match closure. Results are discussed in terms of how mentoring programs and their staff can support the mentoring relationships of high-risk youth in foster care.
PsychStart: a novel mentoring scheme for supporting and valuing medical students interested in psychiatry. [2022]We describe the establishment and evaluation of a career-based mentoring scheme (PsychStart) for medical students interested in psychiatry. Medical students reported multiple benefits of mentoring, including enhanced personal and professional development, increased career and clinical knowledge, and broadened exposure to psychiatry. The mentoring scheme was also found to promote and sustain interest in the specialty. Further evaluation is required to determine the long-term effects of mentoring and how this may compare with other undergraduate enrichment activities. We conclude that mentoring in psychiatry could offer innovative solutions for improving recruitment and retention, and for supporting and valuing medical students who demonstrate an early interest in the specialty.
Outcomes of mentoring programs in psychiatry training: a literature review. [2022]This literature review aimed to outline the evidence regarding the outcomes of formal mentoring programs for training psychiatrists.
Rewriting stories of trauma through peer-to-peer mentoring for and by at-risk young people. [2019]Adverse childhood experiences are strongly associated with the development of mental health disorders during the life span. When mental health issues are not effectively dealt with during the adolescent period, young people can become long-term consumers in the mental health system. A widely accepted method of intervention is the provision of mentoring. More recently, young people have been fulfilling the role of mentor to their peers and mentoring has played a large role in supporting young people who are considered at-risk of not achieving the expected psychosocial, educational, and/or developmental goals. What is not known is why young people, previously identified as being at-risk, are motivated to mentor their at-risk peers. The study aim was to examine what motivates previously recognized at-risk young people to provide mentoring to their at-risk peers. Participants were twelve previously recognized at-risk young people recruited through a formal peer-to-peer mentoring programme. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data analysed through narrative inquiry and reported in accordance with the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines (COREQ). Results indicate that young people are motivated by their own lived experiences of trauma(s) to provide at-risk peer mentoring. The experience of mentoring afforded opportunities to rewrite individual personal journeys of trauma through mentoring their at-risk peers, thus constructing a more positive self-identity. Outcomes of developing positive peer relationships and prosocial behaviours could significantly assist mental health clinicians in providing more acceptable care to clients in an age group known to be reluctant to accept traditional mental health intervention.
Development and Pilot of a Process for Regularly Sharing Summary Patient Safety Data. [2023]Dissemination of patient safety data is key to understanding safety events and improving the quality of patient care. However, there is limited guidance on how psychiatry residency programs can create a supportive environment in which to disclose and discuss such information. The authors developed and piloted a resident-led Patient Safety Presentation process at an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited psychiatry residency program, sharing patient safety data while enhancing residents' education and engagement in patient safety.
A new paradigm for mental-health quality and safety: are we ready? [2019]Development of a Mental Health Quality and Safety Framework with co-designed priority areas for improvement.
Reducing adverse medication events in mental health: Australian National Survey. [2020]To determine the extent to which evidence-based medication safety practices have been implemented in public and private mental health inpatient units across Australia.
Variability in the definition and reporting of adverse events in suicide prevention trials: an examination of the issues and a proposed solution. [2022]Adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) are important outcomes of any intervention study yet are under-researched. Vague and variable definitions and substantial underreporting make comparisons of risk between studies difficult and evaluation of the safety of a particular intervention almost impossible. These realities may deter researchers from studying at-risk populations. Suicidal behavior is an adverse event in any study, and potentially a very serious one. Thus the issues of reporting and definition are particularly salient for researchers who work with populations at risk for suicidal behavior, especially when the suicidal behavior is the outcome of interest. We conducted a qualitative study with experienced suicide researchers and intervention experts to delineate the issues related to reporting serious adverse events faced by investigators conducting trials in suicide prevention. Participants from multiple sites were interviewed by phone, interviews transcribed and coded for definition and reporting issues and suggested solutions. A narrative synthesis was prepared and validated by all participants. Participants highlighted the difficulties in defining AEs and SAEs and stressed the importance and complexity of ensuring the AE was related to the study and reported properly, and were in agreement about the consequences of AEs to both institutions and individuals. Participants identified the need for the development of clear and consistent AE definitions and reporting requirements. Clear and consistently applied definitions of adverse and serious adverse events and reporting requirements would enhance the comparability of intervention studies in suicidal populations.
The need for expanded monitoring of adverse events in behavioral health clinical trials. [2012]Monitoring for possible adverse events is ethically required by Institutional Review Boards and Good Clinical Practice guidelines for all human research involving the delivery of treatment interventions in a clinical trial. The monitoring of adverse events is a well-established and routine practice for contemporary clinical trials involving medications and medical devices. However, these same guidelines have not been fully integrated into clinical trials involving the use of behavioral health interventions and psychotherapy. Most behavioral health clinical trials limit adverse event monitoring to serious adverse events such as suicide attempts, completed suicides, and psychiatric hospitalizations. Other possible "side effects" of psychotherapy, such as temporary increases in anxiety, are often considered a normal part of therapy and are therefore not documented as possible adverse events. This manuscript reviews a variety of reasons for the limited adverse event monitoring in behavioral health clinical trials and highlights the importance of incorporating expanded adverse event monitoring into future behavioral health clinical trials. Without understanding the nature and prevalence of adverse events, patients cannot be informed adequately of the possible risks and benefits of behavioral interventions prior to engaging in treatment.
The use of peer mentors to enhance a smoking cessation intervention for persons with serious mental illnesses. [2019]We evaluated a well-specified peer mentor program that enhanced a professionally led smoking cessation group for persons with serious mental illnesses.
Senior reach outcomes in comparison with the Spokane Gatekeeper program. [2019]Senior Reach program outcomes for older adults referred for care management and mental health services through a Gatekeeper model were examined in this study and compared with the Spokane Gatekeeper model. The two programs were compared for seniors served on service variables and outcome ratings for isolation, depression, and functioning. Approximately 41% of seniors served by both programs were referred by nontraditional sources: community gatekeepers. Findings indicate that individuals served by the Senior Reach program demonstrated significant improvement in reduction of isolators (such as social isolation), improved functioning, increased optimism about the future, increased positive activities with others, decreased emotional disturbance, and improvements on the Geriatric Depression Scale. Additional program comparisons and findings are discussed. Findings for the Senior Reach program demonstrate that the gatekeeper approach to training community partners is effective in finding at-risk seniors and meeting their needs, resulting in positive impacts on their lives.
Randomized trial of social rehabilitation and integrated health care for older people with severe mental illness. [2021]The Helping Older People Experience Success (HOPES) program was developed to improve psychosocial functioning and reduce long-term medical burden in older people with severe mental illness (SMI) living in the community. HOPES includes 1 year of intensive skills training and health management, followed by a 1-year maintenance phase.
Serenity Integrated Mentoring and the High Intensity Network: a scheme that raises serious questions for practice and governance in UK psychiatry. [2023]Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) involved the police and mental health crisis services working in a single team, developing case management plans that allowed a seamless move from offers of therapeutic engagement (by the mental health team) to use of coercive measures (by the police) with those who persisted with frequent crisis presentations. Withdrawn after widespread criticism, the scheme raises important questions - about the practice of mental health professionals who are involved in decisions about using criminal sanctions for people presenting in crisis, about the ethical and legal status of the sharing of confidential clinical information with the police, and about the processes that professional bodies use in promoting, monitoring and responding to controversial service developments.
Outcomes of senior reach gatekeeper referrals: comparison of the Spokane gatekeeper program, Colorado Senior Reach, and Mid-Kansas Senior Outreach. [2019]Outcomes of older adults referred for care management and mental health services through the senior reach gatekeeper model of case finding were examined in this study and compared with the Spokane gatekeeper model Colorado Senior Reach and the Mid-Kansas Senior Outreach (MKSO) programs are the two Senior Reach Gatekeeper programs modeled after the Spokane program, employing the same community education and gatekeeper model and with mental health treatment for elderly adults in need of support. The three mature programs were compared on seniors served isolation, and depression ratings. Nontraditional community gatekeepers were trained and referred seniors in need. Findings indicate that individuals served by the two Senior Reach Gatekeeper programs demonstrated significant improvements. Isolation indicators such as social isolation decreased and depression symptoms and suicide ideation also decreased. These findings for two Senior Reach Gatekeeper programs demonstrate that the gatekeeper approach to training community partners worked in referring at-risk seniors in need in meeting their needs, and in having a positive impact on their lives.