Suicide Prevention by Empowering Adolescents in Pakistan (SEPAK)

Summary

Self-harm is now seen as an epidemic affecting young people across the world and particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) such as Pakistan. Young people in Pakistan often come across many troubles such as mental health and family problems, stress at school and social and economic inequalities. A youth suicide prevention programme is needed in Pakistan. Such programme will be based on secondary schools (where most young people are) and will support schools to work together with many public agencies to tackle the full range of troubles that young people face. Our main research aim is to work together with multiple stakeholders to culturally adapt and test the feasibility of three SEPAK interventions to prevent suicide among students in secondary schools in Pakistan (aged 12 to 17 years).

Conditions

• Self-harm

Interventions

OTHER

LEADS Plus educational posters

This intervention covers depression and its symptoms, the link between depression and suicide, the risk and protective factors associated with suicide, the warning signs of suicide, seeking help and overcoming barriers to seeking help, and school and community suicide prevention resources. Six educational posters will also be displayed in class rooms

OTHER

Question, Persuade, and Refer (Teachers) Plus educational posters

It is a manualised programme for gatekeepers, originally developed in the USA which to train teachers/school staff to identify the suicide risk in students and encourage students at risk of suicide to seek professional help. Six educational posters will also be displayed in classrooms.

OTHER

Screening by Professionals programme plus educational posters

This is an indicated or selective intervention which is based on students' responses to the baseline questionnaires. Participating health professionals review students' responses to the questionnaires used in the study and students whose scores meet pre-established cutoff points will be invited to participate in a professional mental health clinical assessment and if needed, referred to clinical services. Six educational posters will also be displayed in classrooms.

OTHER

educational posters

Six educational posters will be displayed in all schools in this cluster.

OTHER

Question, Persuade, and Refer (Parents) Plus educational posters

It is a manualised programme for gatekeepers (parents), originally developed in the USA which to train parents to support the young people at risk of suicide. Six educational posters will also be displayed in classrooms.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Manchester

  collaborator OTHER

• Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-07-01

Primary Completion

2022-04-28

Completion

2022-08-30

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations