Youth Aware of Mental Health for Danish School Adolescents: Study Protocol for a Cluster-Randomized Feasibility Pilot...

(1) To investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of delivering the Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) program in Danish public schools to 8-9th-grade students, and (2) to explore the preliminary effects of the program on self-reported outcomes at 3- and 6-month follow-up.

This two-armed, cluster-randomized feasibility pilot trial involves 8-10 public schools across Denmark. School 8-9th-grade students are allocated to receive either the YAM program in addition to curriculum as usual or curriculum as usual plus YAM posters. Primary outcomes are participation rates, program adherence, and questionnaire completion. Secondary outcomes are assessed through questionnaires measuring suicidal behavior, psychological distress, well-being, help-seeking intentions, and suicide-related stigma. Data are collected at baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multi-level models to estimate preliminary effects.

Recruitment began in August 2024, and the 6-month follow-up assessment will conclude in July 2025.

This trial provides insight into the practical delivery of YAM in Danish public schools. Findings will inform potential adaptations and guide future implementation designs for school-based mental health strategies.