Promoting Positive Adolescent Mental Health (PPAMH!) for School Climate: protocol for a feasibility randomised control trial in secondary schools [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
- 1Health Sciences, University of York, York, England, YO10 5DD, UK
- 2Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford, England, BD9 6RJ, UK
- 3London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, England, WC1E 7HT, UK
Abstract
Introduction 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. Methods 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. Results This study will provide information about the acceptability and feasibility of delivering and evaluating the school climate intervention in secondary schools. Conclusions 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.
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BibTeX
@article{taylor2026promoting,
title = {{Promoting Positive Adolescent Mental Health (PPAMH!) for School Climate: protocol for a feasibility randomised control trial in secondary schools [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]}},
author = {Olivia Taylor and Ruth Wadman and Catherine Hewitt and John Pickavance and Kristian Hudson and Dan Lewer and John Wright and Joseph Pryce and Simon Gilbody},
journal = {NIHR Open Research},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.3310/nihropenres.13678.2},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13678.2},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Promoting Positive Adolescent Mental Health (PPAMH!) for School Climate: protocol for a feasibility randomised control trial in secondary schools [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
AU - Olivia Taylor
AU - Ruth Wadman
AU - Catherine Hewitt
AU - John Pickavance
AU - Kristian Hudson
AU - Dan Lewer
AU - John Wright
AU - Joseph Pryce
AU - Simon Gilbody
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - NIHR Open Research
DO - 10.3310/nihropenres.13678.2
UR - https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13678.2
AB - Introduction 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. Methods 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. Results This study will provide information about the acceptability and feasibility of delivering and evaluating the school climate intervention in secondary schools. Conclusions 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.
SN - 2633-4402
ER -