TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Gatekeeper training and access to mental health care at universities and colleges
JO  - Journal of Adolescent Health
A1  - Lipson, Sarah Ketchen
A1  - Speer, Nicole
A1  - Brunwasser, Steven
A1  - Hahn, Elisabeth
A1  - Eisenberg, Daniel
SP  - 612
EP  - 619
VL  - 55
IS  - 5
N2  - PURPOSE: Gatekeeper training (GKT) programs are an increasingly popular approach to addressing access to mental health care in adolescent and young adult populations. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a widely used GKT program, Mental Health First Aid, in college student populations. <br><br>METHODS: A randomized control trial was conducted on 32 colleges and universities between 2009 and 2011. Campus residence halls were assigned to the intervention (Mental Health First Aid plus pre-existing trainings) or control condition (pre-existing trainings only) using matched pair randomization. The trainings were delivered to resident advisors (RAs). Outcome measures include service utilization, knowledge and attitudes about services, self-efficacy, intervention behaviors, and mental health symptoms. Data come from two sources: (1) surveys completed by the students (resident advisors and residents; N = 2,543), 2-3 months pre- and post-intervention; and (2) utilization records from campus mental health centers, aggregated by residence. <br><br>RESULTS: The training increases trainees' self-perceived knowledge (regression-adjusted effect size [ES] =.38, p <.001), self-perceived ability to identify students in distress (ES =.19, p =.01), and confidence to help (ES =.17, p =.04). There are no apparent effects, however, on utilization of mental health care in the student communities in which the trainees live. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Although GKT programs are widely used to increase access to mental health care, these programs may require modifications to achieve their objectives.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1054-139X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.05.009
ID  - ref1
ER  -