Adaptation and feasibility assessment of a primary suicide prevention intervention for school adolescents in Nigeria
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN69846459 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN69846459 |
| Project Reference | MR/Y01958X/1 |
| Sponsor | Lagos State University College of Medicine |
| Funder | Medical Research Council |
- Submission date
- 19/11/2025
- Registration date
- 24/11/2025
- Last edited
- 24/11/2025
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Many adolescents in Nigeria experience psychological distress and suicidal thoughts but often lack access to support. This study aims to test whether it is feasible to adapt and deliver a school-based programme called Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) in Lagos secondary schools. YAM has been effective in other countries, and this study will determine whether we can successfully conduct a larger study in Nigeria to test whether it helps reduce suicidal behaviour among students.
This is a feasibility study – the main goal is to test whether it is possible to:
1. Recruit schools and students successfully
2. Deliver the adapted YAM programme as planned
3. Keep students engaged throughout the study
4. Collect reliable information about students' wellbeing at 3 months
5. Identify any problems that need to be fixed before a larger study
If this study shows it is feasible, we will plan a larger study to definitively test whether YAM helps Nigerian adolescents, potentially with a longer follow-up period.
Who can participate?
Students aged 13–17 years in selected public secondary schools in Lagos whose parents or guardians provide consent, and who provide assent.
What does the study involve?
Schools will be randomly placed into one of two groups. One group will receive the adapted YAM programme delivered over five sessions during the school day. The other group will continue standard health education and display suicide awareness posters. All students will complete questionnaires at the beginning of the study, after 3 months, and after 6 months.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Students may gain improved emotional skills, knowledge about mental health, and confidence to seek help. Some may feel uncomfortable discussing difficult topics, but trained staff will provide support, and any serious concerns will be referred for further help using a safety protocol.
Where is the study run from?
The study is being conducted in public secondary schools in Lagos State.
When is the study starting and how long will it run?
The study is expected to start in early 2026 and run for approximately 7 months (recruitment through 3-month follow-up completion). Each student will participate for approximately 3-4 months.
Who is funding the study?
The study is funded by UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) with project reference MR/Y01958X/1
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Abiodun Adewuya, abiodun.adewuya@lasucom.edu.ng
Contact information
Principal investigator, Scientific, Public
Dept of Behavioural Medicine
Lagos State University College of Medicine
Ikeja
Lagos
10010
Nigeria
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-7611-6953 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +234 (0)8055617605 |
| abiodun.adewuya@lasucom.edu.ng |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional | |
|---|---|---|
| Allocation | Randomized controlled trial | |
| Masking | Blinded (masking used) | |
| Control | Active | |
| Assignment | Parallel | |
| Purpose | Prevention | |
| Scientific title | Adaptation and feasibility assessment of a primary suicide prevention intervention for school adolescents in Nigeria: the Suicide PREvention for School ADolescents (SPREAD) study | |
| Study acronym | SPREAD | |
| Study objectives | Primary objective: To assess the feasibility of conducting a definitive cluster RCT Specific feasibility objectives: 1. Evaluate recruitment feasibility 2. Assess retention rates 3. Determine intervention fidelity 4. Examine intervention acceptability 5. Assess implementation barriers/facilitators 6. Estimate parameters for future trial 7. Assess delivery costs 8. Evaluate data collection procedures Exploratory objectives: Obtain preliminary estimates of intervention effects on suicidal behaviour and secondary outcomes at 3 months | |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 04/11/2024, LASUTH Health Research Ethics Committee (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), 1-5, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja, Lagos, 10010, Nigeria; +234 (0)1-4710670; dcst@lasuth.org), ref: LREC/06/10/2656 | |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Suicidal behaviour, self-harm, adolescent mental health | |
| Intervention | Intervention arm (YAM Project): Participants will receive a culturally adapted Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) programme comprising five 3-hour sessions delivered over 5 consecutive weeks by trained facilitators. Sessions will include role-play-based learning, guided discussions, scenario cards adapted to the Nigerian context, and take-home materials. A safety and referral protocol will be followed for any student who expresses suicidal intent. Control arm (Enhanced usual practice): Participants will receive the standard health education curriculum plus the placement of suicide awareness posters in classrooms. No YAM content, role-plays, or facilitator-led sessions will be delivered. Randomisation and follow-up: Schools will be randomised 1:1 using computer-generated cluster randomisation stratified by school size. Baseline data collection will occur before intervention delivery. Follow-up assessments will take place at 3 months and 6 months. Total duration of participation: Approximately 5 months (including intervention delivery period of 5 weeks and 3-month follow-up). | |
| Intervention type | Behavioural | |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
| |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
| |
| Completion date | 31/08/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 13 Years |
| Upper age limit | 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 1200 |
| Key inclusion criteria | School-level: 1. Public co-educational secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria 2. Minimum enrolment of 600 students across all classes 3. At least 6 classes with students aged 13-17 years, each containing minimum 20 students 4. School leadership agreement to participate (documented through signed MoU) 5. Adequate physical space for conducting group activities Student-level: 1. Enrolled in participating school 2. Aged 13-17 years 3. Able to understand English sufficiently to participate in group activities and complete questionnaires 4. Parental consent and student assent provided |
| Key exclusion criteria | School-level: 1. Schools currently implementing structured mental health or suicide prevention programmes 2. Schools planning major transitions (relocations, leadership changes, infrastructure projects) during the study period 3. Schools participating in other research projects creating competing demands or contamination risks Student-level: 1. Severe cognitive impairment or developmental disability precluding meaningful participation in group-based curriculum 2. Active psychotic symptoms requiring immediate clinical intervention 3. Current school suspension or expulsion |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/02/2026 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/03/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Nigeria
Study participating centre
-
-
Nigeria
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | Individual participant data (IPD) will be made available upon reasonable request to the Principal Investigator after completion of the study and publication of main results, subject to appropriate data sharing agreements and ethical approval. |
Editorial Notes
20/11/2025: Study's existence confirmed by the LASUTH Health Research Ethics Committee.
