Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The rates of mental health problems in children and young people (CYP) are estimated to be much higher than previously thought, with two in five CYP reporting increased symptomatology. Poor mental health has been connected to poor developmental outcomes, such as lower academic achievement, poor peer and school relationships, and lower well-being. Cost-effective and feasible interventions are thus urgently needed for the improvement of mental health outcomes and promotion of wellbeing in CYP. Schools are considered an ideal setting for the monitoring and promotion of mental health, given how much time CYP spend in these. The current study thus aims to assess the effectiveness of the Bounce Back (BB), a group-based intervention program delivered in schools. BB aims to improve pupil understanding of resilience and wellbeing, provide practical skills to make positive behaviour changes, support pupils to build their confidence and friendships. These outcomes are hoped to support a positive transition to secondary school.
Who can participate?
Young people in Years 5 or 6 attending primary schools in Newham that implement the BB intervention reporting at least one indicator of emerging mental health difficulty (a mild or moderate emotional, behavioural, attention, or relationship difficulty).
What does the study involve?
Primary schools in Newham are randomly allocated into one of two groups:
1. Participate in Bounce Back (BB) during the 2019 Autumn term
2. Be part of a waitlist comparison group who will participate in BB in 2020 Spring-Summer term
The Bounce Back programme is delivered for one hour per week for 10 weeks.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no known risks/disadvantages to completing the intervention. There are no guaranteed benefits, however most people find taking part in research projects rewarding, as it may help to improve services for young people, and to find out about things that may benefit other people in the future.
Where is the study run from?
London Borough of Newham Children’s Health and HeadStart Newham CYPS (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2019 to October 2020
Who is funding the study?
National Lottery Community Fund (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof Neil Humphrey (scientific)
neil.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk
Elizabeth Ville (public)
Elizabeth.Ville@newham.gov.uk
Trial website
https://www.headstartnewham.co.uk/activities/bounceback-newham/
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Neil Humphrey
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8148-9500
Contact details
University of Manchester
Manchester Institute of Education
Ellen Wilkinson Building
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PL
United Kingdom
+44 (0)161 275 3404
neil.humphrey@manchester.ac.uk
Type
Public
Additional contact
Ms Elizabeth Ville
ORCID ID
Contact details
London Borough of Newham Children’s Health and HeadStart Newham CYPS
3rd Floor East Wing Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU
United Kingdom
+44 (0)203 373 8600
Elizabeth.Ville@newham.gov.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
Nil known
Study information
Scientific title
Bounce Back: Randomized trial of a brief, school-based group intervention for children with emergent mental health difficulties
Acronym
Study hypothesis
The principal questions of the current study are:
RQ1. What is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on participants’ self-reported emotional (Me and My Feelings) scores?
RQ2. What is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on participants’ self-reported behavioural (Me and My Feelings) scores?
RQ3. What is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on participants’ self-reported self-esteem (SRS-Self-esteem) scores?
RQ4. What is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on participants’ self-reported problem solving skills (SRS-Problem-solving) scores?
RQ5. Is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on the above outcomes moderated by attendance rates?
RQ6. Is the impact of BounceBack Newham intervention on the above outcomes sustained over time?
Ethics approval
Approved 28/05/2019, UCL Research Ethics Committee (Office of the Vice-Provost (Research) University College London, Taviton St, London, WC1E 6BT, UK; +44 (0)20 7679 8717; ethics@ucl.ac.uk), ref: 6299/004
Study design
Waitlist cluster randomized controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Cluster randomised trial
Trial setting
Schools
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Child mental health
Intervention
A sample of 24 primary schools in Newham are randomly allocated into one of two groups:
1. Participate in Bounce Back (BB) during the 2019 Autumn term
2. Be part of a waitlist comparison group who will participate in BB in 2020 Spring-Summer term
Randomization took place at the school level and was balanced on year group (5 vs. 6).
Dose: Weekly 1-hour facilitated group activities
Duration: One school term (10 weeks)
How it is administered: Young people work as a group, which is facilitated by a Youth Practitioner, to identify and learn about 10 different life areas and how these link to maintaining wellbeing and emotional resilience. Using an action learning approach, “plan, do, review”, each participant sets a personal behaviour change challenge each week and rates their progress towards achieving it. Participants are provided with a workbook to guide their learning.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Emotional symptoms, measured using the Me and My Feelings at baseline and 10-weeks
Secondary outcome measures
At baseline and 10-weeks:
1. Behavioral problems measured using the Me and My Feelings tool
2. Self-esteem measured using the Student Resilience Survey
3. Problem-solving skills measured using the Student-Resilience Survey
Overall trial start date
24/01/2019
Overall trial end date
31/10/2020
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Attending primary schools in Newham that implement the BB intervention
2. In Years 5 or 6
3. Reporting at least one indicator of emerging mental health difficulty (a mild or moderate emotional, behavioural, attention, or relationship difficulty) as assessed by the professional recommending or themself
4. Following receipt of recommendation, 1:1 screening between young person and youth practitioner to determine level of difficultly and willingness to take part in BB
Participant type
Other
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
25 schools (390 children)
Total final enrolment
326
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Returned a parental opt-out
2. Currently under the care of CAMHS
Recruitment start date
01/05/2019
Recruitment end date
31/05/2019
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
London Borough of Newham Children’s Health and HeadStart Newham CYPS
3rd Floor East Wing Newham Dockside
1000 Dockside Road
London
E16 2QU
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Anna Freud Centre
Sponsor details
The Kantor Centre of Excellence
4-8 Rodney Street
London
N1 9JH
United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7794 2313
jessica.deighton@annafreud.org
Sponsor type
Charity
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
National Lottery Community Fund
Alternative name(s)
Big Lottery Fund
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Other non-profit organizations
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The current data sharing plans for this study are unknown and will be available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
31/05/2020
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2020 results in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32770409/ (added 11/08/2020)