Promoting Positive Adolescent Mental Health (PPAMH!) for School Climate: protocol for a feasibility randomised control trial in secondary schools

We describe a feasibility randomised controlled trial to determine if it is possible to implement a full cluster-randomised trial of a multi-component whole-school intervention aiming to improve the school climate. The Promoting Positive Adolescent Mental Health (PPAMH!) intervention will be adapted from an intervention previously trialled in India and Australia that reduced bullying, depression and risk behaviours among students.

We will randomise six secondary schools in Bradford in a feasibility trial. Three schools will receive the intervention and three will act as the 'usual care' control condition. We will collect quantitative and qualitative data on the implementation through activity logs and interviews with staff and well-being mentors. We will determine the feasibility of accessing and using routine education data and self-report mental health data as outcomes in the full trial.

This study will provide information about the acceptability and feasibility of delivering and evaluating the school climate intervention in secondary schools.

This is the first study to deliver a promising whole school climate intervention in the UK. The results of this feasibility trial will inform the decision to embark on a full trial and further intervention adaptations as needed. Trial registration ISRCTN registry reference ISRCTN14856201.