%0 Journal Article
%T Effectiveness of Youth Mental Health First Aid USA for Social Work Students
%A Jodi J. Frey
%A Judith Leitch
%A Kathryn S. Collins
%A Philip J. Osteen
%A Theda Rose
%J Research on Social Work Practice
%@ 1552-7581
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1049731517729039
%X Adolescent mental health is a public health priority. Considered an early intervention approach, Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) trains adults to provide initial assistance to adolescents experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the U.S. version of YMHFA (YMHFA-USA) among graduate social work students. A quasi-experimental design (N = 73; intervention, n = 39; comparison, n = 34), using the Mental Health Beliefs and Literacy Scale, assessed the effectiveness of YMHFA-USA. Outcomes were measured at pretest, posttest, and 5 months in the intervention group. Differences between groups were compared at 5 months. Statistically significant improvements in attitudes, beliefs, self-confidence, and knowledge were observed among intervention group students. At 5 months, these students had significantly better attitudes and greater knowledge and self-confidence than the comparison group. Results indicate YMHFA-USA may improve factors related to master¡¯s level social work students¡¯ abilities to engage with youth experiencing mental health problems
%K Youth Mental Health First Aid
%K youth
%K mental health
%K social work
%K training
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1049731517729039