Evaluating the Impact of Aevidum on Mental Health Knowledge, Attitudes, and Help-Seeking Behaviors in High School Students: A Mixed-Methods Study.

PURPOSE: To compare Aevidum's school mental health curriculum vs the curriculum plus Aevidum clubs in a mixed-methods study including pre/post surveys, a randomized clinical trial, and qualitative interviews. DESIGN: Concurrent mixed-methods: Aim 1) pre-post surveys evaluated curriculum only vs curriculum plus club schools separately regarding changes in knowledge, help-seeking, and school culture; Aim 2) randomized clinical trial compared curriculum only to curriculum plus club schools; Aim 3) qualitative school staff interviews enhanced understanding of school culture changes. SETTING: Curriculum delivered to 9th graders at ten Pennsylvania high schools; 5 schools randomized to start clubs. SUBJECTS: Students (surveys), staff (interviews). INTERVENTION: Aevidum curriculum plus/minus club. MEASURES: Aim 1, mixed effects linear and logistic regression models for longitudinal data were used to analyze survey items at each time point. Aim 2, the same regression models were used, except models included a fixed-effect for group and group by time interaction effect. Aim 3, interviews were transcribed; a codebook was developed followed by thematic analysis. RESULTS: Pre-survey 2557 respondents; 49% female, 86% non-Hispanic white. Post-survey 737 (29% response rate). Aim 1, pre-post (Likert responses, larger numbers favorable) demonstrated increased student knowledge to identify depression (4.26 [4.19-4.33] to 4.59 [4.47-4.71], P < .001) and help a friend access support (4.30 [4.21-4.38] to 4.56 [4.40-4.71], P = .001). Help-seeking increased for phone helplines (1.61 [1.57-1.66] to 1.78 [1.70-1.86], P < .001), crisis textlines (1.60 [1.55-1.64] to 1.78 [1.70-1.86], P < .001), internet/websites (1.80 [1.75-1.85] to 1.99 [1.90-2.08], P < .001), school counselors (P = .005) and teachers (.013). Aim 2, no significant differences in knowledge, help-seeking or culture between curriculum only vs curriculum plus club schools. Aim 3, staff (n = 17) interviews supported reduced stigma and increased mental health referrals. CONCLUSIONS: Aevidum's curriculum improved mental health knowledge and help-seeking; adding the club did not significantly change responses. Staff identified positive school culture impacts. Limitations include the lower post-survey response.

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric weight: A retrospective chart review.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced United States school closures in March 2020. Students moved to online learning, fostering a sedentary lifestyle. As the pandemic heightened population disparities, the impact on weight gain may also be unequally distributed. This study aimed to evaluate changes in body mass index (BMI) z-scores and weight percentiles of pediatric patients during the pandemic and associated demographics to identify those at risk for weight gain. Methods included a retrospective chart review of patients 5-18 years-old with a well-visit in the three years 2018, 2019 and 2020; first identified with a well-visit in August-September of 2020. BMI z-scores and weight percentiles were analyzed using a correlated errors regression model appropriate for longitudinal data. This longitudinal approach was used to model outcomes by patient demographics. Interaction terms with time were evaluated for each variable. Of 728 patients, mean age was 9.7 years (2018); 47 % female, 70 % white, and 23 % publicly insured. BMI z-score did not increase significantly from 2018-2019 versus 2019-2020. Weight percentile demonstrated a slight trajectory increase over these same time points. Publicly insured patients demonstrated significantly greater increase in BMI z-score versus privately insured patients (p = 0.009). Mean differences between groups increased from 0.26 in 2018 (95 % CI [0.07, 0.45]) to 0.42 in 2020 (95 % CI [0.23, 0.61]). Results were similar for weight percentile. Publicly insured pediatric patients experienced significant increase in BMI-z score and weight percentile, but over time this trajectory remained constant. The results support targeting at risk subgroups in addressing long-term impacts of the pandemic.

Insights on COVID-19, School Reopening Procedures, and Mental Wellness: Pilot Interviews With School Employees.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused interruptions to the K-12 US school landscape since spring 2020. METHODS: In summer 2020, we completed a pilot study utilizing interviews (n = 13) with school staff (ie, nurses, educators) from across the United States. We aimed to understand the status of school operation and re-entry plans after the primary period of school closure, along with resources needed for students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: All interviewees described their school's re-entry plan as complete or in-development. Ten plans included strategies to meet students' mental health needs. Only 3 clearly planned for staff mental health resources. Interviews suggest gaps in planning and execution of mental health resources for school staff, a group already vulnerable to stress, anxiety, and burnout. IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH: Several school staff mental health resources were developed as a result of the pandemic, though ongoing impacts necessitate integration of these supports into school operation plans. This is particularly important as schools continue to navigate periods of altered operation in response to elevated community COVID-19 infection rates. CONCLUSIONS: As schools implement strategies to support students, similar consideration should be given to the adults in the school environment who teach and support school-aged children.

Adolescent Suicide Risk Screening: A Secondary Analysis of the SHIELD Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of adolescent suicide risk screening to increase initiation of mental health services via a secondary analysis using data from the SHIELD (Screening in High Schools to Identify, Evaluate and Lower Depression) randomized clinical trial, which evaluated school-based screening for major depressive disorder (MDD). STUDY DESIGN: Students in 14 Pennsylvania high schools were randomized by grade to either the usual school practice of targeted referral for behavior raising a concern for suicide risk or universal screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with any response >0 to item 9 regarding suicide risk considered positive. Students identified in either arm were referred to the Student Assistance Program (SAP), which is mandated in all Pennsylvania schools. The SAP determined follow-up. Study groups were compared using mixed-effects logistic regression. RESULTS: The participants comprised 12 909 students, with 6473 (50.1%) randomized to universal screening. The study group was 46% female and 43% Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black. Adolescents in the universal screening arm had 7.1-fold greater odds (95% CI, 5.7-8.8) of being identified as at risk for suicide, 7.8-fold greater odds (95% CI, 4.6-13.1) of follow-up needs, and 4.0-fold greater odds (95% CI, 2.0-7.9) of initiating mental health treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although the PHQ-9 is a MDD screening tool, its use in universal screening increased identification and treatment initiation for adolescents at risk for suicide. This confirms the value of universal screening and suggests that a suicide-specific risk assessment would have even greater impact on treatment initiation for identified youth. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03716869.

The Role of Technical Assistance in School Wellness Policy Enhancement.

BACKGROUND: School settings offer an opportunity to impact student health and wellness. Quality wellness policies are important in establishing strong wellness environments, but current resources to support policy development, maintenance, and dissemination are lacking. The Building Healthy Schools Program aimed to develop capacity of school districts to improve the strength and comprehensiveness of wellness policies and sustain these activities. METHODS: Fifteen school districts in Pennsylvania participated in a program to facilitate the improvement of district wellness policies and practices. Program staff provided technical assistance to evaluate wellness policies before and after program implementation. Professional development and tailored training was provided for school personnel to create sustainability. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate policy improvement. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 15 participating districts completed a policy revision. Median strength (p = .001) and comprehensiveness (p = .002) scores improved from baseline to post-program and there were significant improvements in most assessment sub-sections. Some districts were hesitant to make strong language improvements due to their limited capacity (ie, staff) for implementation. Champions (n = 13; 87%) reported confidence to revise wellness policy language independently in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Technical assistance provided to districts facilitated significant improvements to wellness policy language, especially in the implementation, evaluation, and communication; critical components for policy impact on school wellness environments. In addition, participant feedback suggested an ability to sustain activities in the future. Both external (ie, technical assistance) and internal resources are needed to facilitate school districts' ongoing wellness policy improvement and implementation, including improved model wellness policy language and enforcement within schools, respectively.

Screening in High Schools to Identify, Evaluate, and Lower Depression Among Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) prevalence has nearly doubled in the past decade. The US Preventive Services Task Force endorses universal adolescent MDD screening in primary care; however, most adolescents lack preventive health care, resulting in worsening disparities in MDD screening and treatment. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of universal adolescent MDD screening in the school setting in an effort to reduce disparities and improve MDD identification and treatment initiation. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial, conducted from November 6, 2018, to November 20, 2020, compared the usual school practice of targeted or selected screening based on observable behaviors of concern with universal MDD screening. Students within an identified school were randomized by grade to 1 of the 2 study groups. Study groups were compared using mixed-effects logistic regression. Participants included students in grades 9 through 12 enrolled at 1 of the 14 participating Pennsylvania public high schools. Interventions: In targeted screening, students with behaviors prompting concern for MDD were referred to the Student Assistance Program (SAP), mandated in all Pennsylvania schools. The SAP determined follow-up recommendations. In universal screening, all students completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); students with positive scores proceeded to SAP. The universal screening group could also have targeted referral to SAP for concerning behavior independent of the PHQ-9. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was initiation of MDD treatment or services based on data collected by school SAP teams during the academic year. Results: A total of 12 909 students were included (median age, 16 years [range, 13-21 years]; 6963 male [53.9%]), of whom 2687 (20.8%) were Hispanic, 2891 (22.4%) were non-Hispanic Black, 5842 (45.3%) were non-Hispanic White, and 1489 (11.5%) were multiracial or of other race or ethnicity. A total of 6473 students (50.1%) were randomized to universal screening, and 6436 (49.9%) were randomized to targeted screening. Adolescents in the universal screening group had 5.92 times higher odds (95% CI, 5.07-6.93) of being identified with MDD symptoms, 3.30 times higher odds (95% CI, 2.49-4.38) of SAP confirming follow-up needs, and 2.07 times higher odds (95% CI, 1.39-3.10) of initiating MDD treatment. No differences were identified in initiation for planned subgroup analyses by sex or race and ethnicity. Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial, universal school-based MDD screening successfully increased identification of MDD symptoms and treatment initiation among adolescents, confirming the value of this approach to address this rising public health concern. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03716869.

Influence of prenatal perceived stress on postpartum weight retention is mediated by high gestational weight gain in women with overweight.

Women with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are at risk for poor psychosocial well-being and postpartum weight retention (PPWR). Scant research has examined longitudinal interrelations of GWG, psychosocial factors, and PPWR. This study examined: (a) pre-pregnancy weight status (ie, normal, overweight, obesity) differences in PPWR and its psychosocial determinants (perceived social support, perceived stress, depression) in women with excessive GWG (ie, above 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines); and (b) whether GWG mediated associations between psychosocial determinants and PPWR. Women (N = 1352) reported third trimester perceived social support, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms, GWG, and 6- and 12-month PPWR via telephone interviews. Multivariate ANOVA analyses showed women with normal weight had higher 6-month PPWR than women with obesity; univariate ANOVA showed no group differences in psychosocial factors. Hayes mediation analyses indicated that GWG mediated the association between perceived stress and PPWR in women with overweight but not women with normal weight or obesity; perceived stress predicted GWG, and in turn, PPWR. Prenatal perceived stress may be a modifiable target of GWG and PPWR. Future research is needed to examine the utility of tailoring perinatal weight regulation interventions to reduce perceived stress in pregnant women with overweight.

National Survey of School Employees: COVID-19, School Reopening, and Student Wellness.

BACKGROUND: During spring 2020, COVID-19 forced widespread United States school building closures in an unprecedented disruption for K-12 students and staff. Partnering with the American School Health Association (ASHA), we sought to identify areas of concern among school staff planning for school reopening with the goal of addressing gaps in resources and education. METHODS: This 16-item web-based survey was distributed via email to 7467 ASHA members from May to June 2020. Topics focused on 3 Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child components: physical environment, health services, and mental health. Chi-square tests were used to identify differences in responses by school characteristics and school role on each survey item. RESULTS: A total of 375 respondents representing 45 states completed the survey. The majority were female (91.7%), white (83.4%) and non-Hispanic (92.2%), and school nurses (58.7%). Priority concerns were feasibility of social distancing (93.6%), resurgence of COVID-19 (92.8%), and the availability of health supplies (88.8%). CONCLUSION: Understanding staff concerns in the context of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model better positions the school community to address ongoing gaps and changing needs as schools continue to address COVID-19 complications.

Effectiveness of Universal School-Based Screening vs Targeted Screening for Major Depressive Disorder Among Adolescents: A Trial Protocol for the Screening in High Schools to Identify, Evaluate, and Lower Depression (SHIELD) Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The prevalence of annual major depressive disorder (MDD) episodes among adolescents in the United States rose from 8.3% in 2008 to 12.8% in 2016. Despite the US Preventive Services Task Force 2009 endorsement and 2016 reaffirmation of universal adolescent MDD screening in primary care, many adolescents are missed, as more than 60% lack annual preventive health visits and MDD screening remains inconsistent. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of universal school-based screening for adolescent MDD vs the existing process of targeted screening based on observable behavior. Design, Setting, and Participants: Screening in High Schools to Identify, Evaluate, and Lower Depression (SHIELD) is a randomized clinical trial that will take place in at least 8 Pennsylvania public high schools among at least 9650 students enrolled in 9th through 12th grade. Students will be randomized by grade to either targeted screening (current process) or universal screening (intervention). Students in the targeted screening arm will complete mandated school health screenings, which do not include an MDD screening. These students will be observed through the academic year for referral to the Student Assistance Program (SAP), required in all Pennsylvania schools. If a student exhibits behavior concerning for MDD raised by any contact (eg, teacher, parent, peer, or self-referral), SAP will triage the student and provide follow-up recommendations. Students in the universal screening arm will complete the validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) from September through December of the academic year. The PHQ-9 includes 9 close-ended questions and is scored from 0 to 27. Students with a positive result (ie, score >10) will proceed to SAP triage. Students in the intervention arm will also be observed for behavior concerning for MDD during the school year, potentially prompting SAP triage referral. The primary outcome will be the proportion of adolescents referred to SAP triage who are recommended for additional MDD-related services and successfully engage with at least 1 SAP recommendation. Observers will not be blinded to patient groups, and an intention-to-treat analysis will be used. Discussion: The SHIELD trial began with 3 schools during the 2018-2019 academic year. Screening in the intervention arm with the PHQ-9 is currently underway for the remaining schools, with a goal of completion of all PHQ-9 screenings by December 2019. This trial addresses the US Preventive Services Task Force call for large, high-quality randomized clinical trials to better understand the effects of MDD screening and quantify the proportion of adolescents with screen-detected MDD successfully referred and treated. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03716869.

Breastfeeding initiation and duration and child health outcomes in the first baby study.

Despite the known benefits of breastmilk, associations between breastfeeding and child overall health outcomes remain unclear. We aimed to understand associations between breastfeeding and health outcomes, including child weight, through age 3. Analysis included women (N = 3006) in the longitudinal, prospective First Baby Study from 2009 to 2014. For this analysis, breastfeeding initiation and duration were measured using self-reported data from the 1-, 6- and 12-month surveys; child illnesses were analyzed from the 6-, 12-, and 24-month interviews; height and weight at age 3 were used to determine overweight/obese (≥85th percentile) and obese (≥95th percentile). Adjusted logistic regressions were utilized to determine significance. Greater duration of breastfeeding was associated with fewer reported acute illnesses at 6 months (p < 0.001) and fewer diarrheal illness/constipation episodes at 6, 12, and 24 months (p = 0.05) in adjusted analyses. Fewer breastfed children, compared to non-breastfed children, were overweight/obese (23.5% vs. 37.8%; p = 0.032) or obese (9.1% vs. 21.6%; p = 0.012) at age 3. Breastfeeding duration was negatively associated with overweight/obese (never breastfed: 37.8%, 0-6 months: 26.9%, >6 months: 20.2%; p = 0.020) and obesity (never breastfed: 21.6%, 0-6 months: 11.0%, >6 months: 7.3%; p = 0.012). Overall, our findings support the hypothesis that duration of breastfeeding is associated with fewer reported acute illnesses at 6 months of age and diarrheal illness and/or constipation episodes at 6, 12, and 24 months. Additionally, results from our study suggest a protective effect of breastfeeding from childhood overweight/obesity, as children who received breastmilk for 6 months or longer had lower odds of overweight/obesity at age 3 years.