Evaluating the Online Mental Health Check and Mental Health Stigma for Primary School Children

The mental health check is a questionnaire delivered on a website that offers a way for parents and children to answer questions on symptoms of anxiety and depression. This study will aim to evaluate whether the mental health check alone significantly impacts stigma in children aged 6 to 12 years. The study design is a school-based study where we aim to conduct a cluster randomized controlled trial with two intervention arms. Data will be collected during a baseline assessment and follow up assessments at 6 and 12 weeks. Parent and child report data will be collected using online questionnaires. Data collection at baseline, and 6- and 12-week follow-up assessments will occur online via a website that parents can complete in the comfort of their own home on their own device (e.g., tablet, phone, laptop, computer). Children will complete assessments in their classroom on a school device. Monitor vs. Control. The key difference in this trial is whether the assessment of stigma is completed before or after the mental health check (the monitor group will complete the stigma assessment after completing the mental health check). Participants (students and their parents) will be asked to complete the Online Mental Health Check and outcome assessment (stigma only) at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Students will be given class time during school hours to complete this, and parents can complete this at a time and place of their choosing. Adherence to completion of the assessments will be monitored by the participating school (for students) and via Qualtrics reports (parents). The questionnaires should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.