Table 2 Measures used at baseline and one year follow-up to assess student outcomes
Outcome | Survey measure | Response | Example | Scores range and reliability statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Measures of Mental Health First Aid | ||||
 Quality of first aid intentions | If John/Jeanie was a friend I would… | Choose any of 13 possibilities: 6 consistent with Action Plan 6 discordant with Action Plan Other (please specify) | Helpful—Tell John I have noticed something seems wrong, and I want to make sure he is okay Harmful/unhelpful—Ignore Jeanie because she is attention-seeking | Helpful intentions subscale, total score on 6 items: 0 to 6 John ω = .84 Jeanie ω = .85 Unhelpful intentions subscale, total score on 6 items 0 to 6 John ω = .76 Jeanie ω = .78 |
 Confidence | If John/Jeanie was a friend, how confident would you feel in helping him/her | 5-point Likert scale 1 = Not at all 5 = Extremely |  | Test–retest for PFA students (apx 4 weeks apart) John r = .52 Jeanie r = .48 |
 Quality of first aid behaviours (among those reporting contact with a peer with a mental health problem/crisis) | In the last 12 months have you had contact with anyone about your age (i.e. between 13–18 years old) who you thought might have a mental health problem or has experienced a mental health crisis? | Yes, No, Not sure, I do not want to answer If yes/not sure – Please tell us how many people about your age you had contact with who you thought might have a mental health problem or experienced a mental health crisis; did you offer any help?; What did you do to help the person? Choose any of 12 possibilities: 6 consistent with Action Plan 6 discordant with Action Plan Other (please specify) | Helpful – Invited them to hang out and do something fun with me Unhelpful – Avoided talking about suicide because it might put the idea in their head | Helpful behaviours subscale, total score on 6 items: 0 to 6 ω = .73 Unhelpful behaviours subscale, total score on 6 items 0 to 6 ω = .64 |
 Quality of first aid received from a peer (among those self-reporting a mental health problem/crisis) | In the last 12 m has anyone tried to support or assist you with this mental health problem or crisis? | Yes, No, Not sure If yes/not sure—Who provided support or assistance for the problem? [friend, parent, other family member, health professional, teacher, other] If friend – What did your friend do to help you? Choose any of 10 possibilities: 6 consistent with Action Plan 4 discordant with Action Plan Other (please specify) | Helpful – Told me they noticed something seems wrong and wanted to make sure I was ok Harmful/Unhelpful – Told me what to do to fix my problems | Helpful behaviours received subscale, total score on 6 items: 0 to 6 ω = .71 Unhelpful behaviours received subscale, total score on 4 items 0 to 4 ω = .67 |
Measures of Mental Health Literacy | ||||
 Beliefs about helpfulness of adult help | Which of the following people do you think would be helpful, harmful, or neither for John/Jeanie’s problem? | Helpful, Neither, Harmful | Counsellor General Practitioner (GP) or family doctor Parent Teacher School Counsellor/Welfare coordinator Minister or Priest | Total number of adults endorsed as helpful: 0 to 6 Test–retest for PFA students (apx 4 weeks apart) John r = .55 Jeanie r = .58 |
 Help seeking intentions | If I had a problem right now like John’s/Jeanie’s I would… |  | Talk to a friend about it Improve my diet | Total score on 5 items: 0 to 5 John ω = .76 Jeanie ω = .72 |
Measures of Stigma | ||||
 Social Distance | Would you be happy to: | 4-point Likert scale 1 = Yes definitely 4 = Definitely not | Develop a close friendship with John/Jeanie Go out with John/Jeanie on the weekend | Total score on 5 items: 5 to 20 John ω = .91 Jeanie ω = .94 |
 Weak-not-sick | Please indicate how strongly you personally agree or disagree with each statement | 5-point Likert scale 1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree | A problem like John/Jeanie’s is a sign of personal weakness John/Jeanie’s problem is a real medical illness People with a problem like John/Jeanie’s could snap out of it if they wanted It is best to avoid people with a problem like John/Jeanie’s so you don’t develop this problem | Mean score of 4 items John ω = .77 Jeanie ω = .78 |
 Dangerous/Unpredictable | Please indicate how strongly you personally agree or disagree with each statement | 5-point Likert scale 1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree | People with a problem like John’s/Jeanie’s are dangerous People with a problem like John/Jeanie’s are unpredictable It is best to avoid people with a problem like John/Jeanie’s so you don’t develop this problem | Mean score of 3 items John ω = .59 Jeanie ω = .77 |
 Would not tell anyone | Please indicate how strongly you personally agree or disagree with each statement | 5-point Likert scale 1 = Strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree | If I had a problem like John’s/Jeanie’s I would not tell anyone | Test–retest for PFA students John r = .54 Jeanie r = .50 |