Mental health first aid training for China: a randomised controlled trial

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN21096283

Enrollment

120

Registered

2023-02-18

Start date

2024-02-15

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-05-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Mental health literacy and stigma Other

Interventions

The intervention Mental health first aid (MHFA) training for China is a major adaptation based on the Australian Standard MHFA 12-hour course. Course adaptation was undertaken members of the Shanghai

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 120 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Adults aged 18 years old and over

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Previously completed an MHFA course 2. Low level of literacy (below middle school) 3. A high level of mental health knowledge based on their professional role (e.g., psychologists and psychiatrists)

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Intentions to provide mental health first aid measured using the Mental health support scale – Intended at baseline (T1), 1 month (T2) and 7 months after completing the training (T3)	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Recognition of depression measured by asking the participant to write a vignette at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 2. Beliefs about treatment and mental health professionals measured using a Chinese adaptation of a 16-item scale used in a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trial in Australia, at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 3. Confidence in providing MHFA for a person with depression measured by asking participants to rate how confident they would feel supporting this person, at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 4. Helping actions taken to assist a person with depression measured using the MHSS-Provided subscale Chinese version at baseline and 7 months 5. Desire for social distance from a person with a mental health problem measured using the Link Social Distance Scale at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 6. Personally stigmatising attitudes about a person with depression, measured using the Depression Stigma Scale at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 7. Course quality and satisfaction measured using a 5-item questionnaire at 1 month	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Recognition of depression measured by asking the participant to write a vignette at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 2. Beliefs about treatment and mental health professionals measured using a Chinese adaptation of a 16-item scale used in a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) trial in Australia, at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 3. Confidence in providing MHFA for a person with depression measured by asking participants to rate how confident they would feel supporting this person, at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 4. Helping actions taken to assist a person with depression measured using the MHSS-Provided subscale Chinese version at baseline and 7 months 5. Desire for social distance from a person with a mental health problem measured using the Link Social Distance Scale at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 6. Personally stigmatising attitudes about a person with depression, measured using the Depression Stigma Scale at baseline, 1-month and 7 months 7. Course quality and satisfaction measured using a 5-item questionnaire at 1 month

—

Countries

China

Contacts

Public ContactNicola Reavley

nreavley@unimelb.edu.au+61 3 9035 7628

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: May 22, 2026