Pilot Study of Teacher-Delivered Mental Health Care for Adolescents in Rural Darjeeling, India

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to pilot test a novel, potentially sustainable system where teachers deliver mental health care to adolescents in rural, low-cost private secondary schools in the Darjeeling Himalayas. The study focuses on the Tealeaf-A intervention, adapted from a program originally developed for children, to address the youth mental health crisis by integrating therapy into teachers daily interactions with students. The goal is to see if teachers can effectively deliver this approach and if it leads to improved mental health outcomes for adolescents. The study involves two groups of schools one receiving the Tealeaf-A intervention, where teachers complete six days of training and receive biweekly supervision to deliver care throughout the school year and a comparator group receiving enhanced usual care, which includes two days of training but no supervision. Tealeaf-A includes teacher-led identification of students needing care, behavioral assessments, individualized therapeutic plans called the 4Cs, and collaboration with caregivers, all delivered within the school environment. The intervention emphasizes real-time support and coping skill practice during the school day. Participants, including principals, teachers, students aged 13 to 17, and their guardians, will take part in assessments such as the Youth Self-Report and Teachers Report Form to measure mental health symptoms. Researchers will evaluate implementation outcomes like reach, adoption, and fidelity, as well as clinical effectiveness and maintenance of benefits over time. The study uses a cluster randomized controlled design with mixed methods, including interviews and quantitative measures, with follow-up extending up to 21 months. The total participation spans an academic year with ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

Teachers Leading the Front Lines - Adolescent