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Expanding the Reach of Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment: Diffusion and Spillover of Mental Health Benefits Among Peer Networks and Caregivers of Youth Facing Compounded Adversity in Sierra Leone

Award Number: R01MH117359
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/11/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2026

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Expanding the Reach of Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment: Diffusion and Spillover of Mental Health Benefits Among Peer Networks and Caregivers of Youth Facing Compounded Adversity in Sierra Leone - PROJECT SUMMARY The proposed study links with and leverages an ongoing scale up study of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) based intervention, the Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI), among youth facing adversity in Sierra Leone that is currently being implemented in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The YRI has demonstrated feasibility and effectiveness for improving emotion regulation and daily functioning in youth. This study aims to harness the mechanisms of natural diffusion of CBT techniques learned among peer groups and spillover phenomenon in reduction of burden to cohabitating caregivers. Preliminary studies of the YRI in Sierra Leone indicate both mechanisms occur. Researchers from the Boston College School of Social Work will examine the potential of the YRI to reach a larger segment of the population by examining the extent to which indirect effects result in measureable incremental health benefits (symptoms and functioning) among nonparticipants. Study aims are to investigate (1) mechanism of diffusion—the untargeted and unplanned spread of new practices among social network members—of YRI components and mental health benefits experienced by nonparticipant peers who learn YRI practices from YRI participants; (2) indirect mental health benefits experienced by nonparticipants among cohabitating caregivers of YRI participants (spillover effects); and (c) incremental health costs and benefits among YRI participants' caregivers and peers through cost-effectiveness and return on investment analysis. Study design includes a control group (current YRI participants and YRI nonparticipants). YRI participants and control participants who consent to the current study will nominate 3 peers in their social networks aged 18-24 and will also identify their primary cohabitating caregiver. Following consent, peers and caregivers will be assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up on mental health, emotion regulation, daily functioning, and sense of burden (caregivers only). Study outcomes also incorporate common indicators for implementation science, including measures of project context, evaluation, and scale-up, to enhance knowledge exchange across global research networks. Assessing implementation research outcomes, including penetration of YRI effects and cost-effectiveness of the YRI as distinct outcomes will provide key information about the success of YRI implementation, thereby supporting decisions about whether to increase scale up efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa and other LMICs. Findings on diffusion of the YRI will inform the feasibility of peer-led interventions and the development of additional educational materials to amplify YRI components identified as most transferrable. Findings on spillover effects will inform the potential reach and penetration of evidence-based practices in LMICs. Lessons learned will inform the GoSL, GIZ, and development actors on investing in evidence-based mental health interventions in low-resource settings.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2023	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	1/27/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $596,967 )
2023	2023	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	3/17/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$596,967
														Subtotal = $596,967

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $598,447 )
2022	2022	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	4/14/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$598,447
														Subtotal = $598,447

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $698,069 )
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	1/27/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$616,267
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	9/9/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$81,802
														Subtotal = $698,069

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $706,592 )
2020	2020	BOSTON COLLEGE, TRUSTEES OF	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	1/31/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$706,592
														Subtotal = $706,592

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $753,383 )
2019	2019	BOSTON COLLEGE, TRUSTEES OF	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	9/24/2019	NEW	$0
2019	2019	BOSTON COLLEGE, TRUSTEES OF	140 COMMONWEALTH AVE	CHESTNUT HILL	MA	02467	MIDDLESEX	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	4/10/2019	NEW	$753,383
														Subtotal = $753,383

Grand Total All Awards = $3,353,458

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Expanding the Reach of Evidence-Based Mental Health Treatment: Diffusion and Spillover of Mental Health Benefits Among Peer Networks and Caregivers of Youth Facing Compounded Adversity in Sierra Leone

Award Number: R01MH117359

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/11/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2026

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