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Internet-based universal prevention for anxiety, depression and substance use in young Australians (CLIMATE Schools Combined (CSC) study)

  • Research program: Prevention and early intervention
  • Project status: Completed
  • Start date: January 2013
  • Expected end date: April 2019
  • Completion date: April 2019
  • Funded by: NHMRC
  • Lead organisation: University of New South Wales
Project Description

Anxiety, depressive and substance use disorders account for three quarters of the disability attributed to mental disorders. Moreover, research indicates that these disorders are often comorbid, share common risk factors and interact. The peak of these disorders occurs in those aged 15-24 years old, which also corresponds with the typical period of onset. It is therefore important that effective preventative interventions begin early, before patterns of mental health and substance use disorder symptoms are established and begin to cause disability, as well as vocational, educational and social harm.

An array of preventative interventions for these disorders currently exists, however the effectiveness of these programs is contentious. Furthermore, interventions are typically designed to target a single disorder at one time and there are few effective preventive programs which concurrently target these common disorders. This study aims to address this gap by evaluating an integrative approach known as the CLIMATE Schools Combined (CSC) intervention, which includes the evidence-based ‘universal’ CLIMATE Schools Substance Use course and the ‘universal’ CLIMATE Schools Mental Health course. It is anticipated that this integrative approach will be more effective in reducing problems and symptoms associated with substance use and mental health disorders compared to the stand-alone interventions and school-based health education as usual. The CSC study will be the first trial, internationally, to develop an integrative model for dissemination in schools across Australia.

More information about the CSC study, including a webinar outlining the initial findings of phase I of the study, is available on the study homepage at https://cscstudy.org.au/.

PhD Student
PhD Supervisors
NDRI Project Staff
Name & Contact Details Role Research Program Location
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Associate Professor Nyanda McBride
Tel: 61 (0)8 9266 1600
n.mcbride@curtin.edu.au
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Chief Investigator

Prevention and early intervention

Perth
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Professor Steve Allsop
Tel: 61 (0)8 9266 1606
s.allsop@curtin.edu.au
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Chief Investigator

Alcohol policy and strategies

Perth
NDRI Adjunct Project Staff
External Project Staff
  • Principal Investigator: Maree Teesson, University of Sydney
  • Chief Investigator: Nicola Newton, University of Sydney
  • Chief Investigator: Leanne Hides, University of Queensland
  • Chief Investigator: Gavin Andrews, University of New South Wales
  • Chief Investigator: Timothy Slade, University of Sydney
  • Chief Investigator: Catherine Chapman, University of Sydney
  • Project staff: Nina te Pas, Curtin University
Project Contact

Ms Nina te Pas
Research Associate
Tel: 61 (0)8 9266 1613
nina.tepas@curtin.edu.au
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Sustainable Development Goals and Targets

This project aligns with the following Sustainable Development Goals and Targets:

Related Publications

Newton, N., C., Chapman, C., Slade, T., Birrell, L., Healy, A., Mather, M., McBride, N., Hides, L., Allsop, S., Mewton, L., Andrews, G. and Teesson, M. (2022). A national effectiveness trial of an eHealth program to prevent alcohol and cannabis misuse: responding to the replication crisis. Psychological Medicine, 52, (2), pp. 274-282. doi:10.1017/S0033291720001919 [RJ1612] View web page

Mewton, L., Shaw, B., Slade, T., Birrell, L., Newton, N., C., Chapman, C., Allsop, S., Hides, L., McBride, N., Andrews, G. and Teesson, M. (2020). The comorbidity between alcohol use and internalising psychopathology in early adolescence. Mental Health and Prevention, 17. doi:10.1016/j.mhp.2019.200176 [RJ1479] View web page

Birrell, L., Newton, N., C., Slade, T., Chapman, C., Mewton, L., McBride, N., Hides, L., Chatterton, M., L., Allsop, S., Healy, A., Mather, M., Quinn, C., Mihalopoulos, C. and Teesson, M. (2019). Correction: Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of school-based depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse prevention into young adulthood: Protocol for the Climate School Combined study. Journal of Medical Internet Research Research Protocols, 8, (9), pp. e15391. doi:10.2196/15391 [RJ1572] View web page

Pocuca, N., Hides, L., Quinn, C., Mewton, L., Newton, N., C., Slade, T., Chapman, C., Andrews, G., Teesson, M., Allsop, S. and McBride, N. (2019). The interactive effects of perceived peer drinking and personality profiles on adolescent drinking: A prospective cohort study. Addiction. doi:10.1111/add.14469 [RJ1454] View web page

Birrell, L., Newton, N., C., Slade, T., Chapman, C., Mewton, L., McBride, N., Hides, L., Chatterton, M., L., Allsop, S., Healy, A., Mather, M., Quinn, C., Mihalopoulos, C. and Teesson, M. (2018). Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of school-based depression, anxiety and alcohol misuse prevention into young adulthood: Protocol for the Climate School Combined study. Journal of Medical Internet Research Research Protocols, 7, (11), pp. e11372. doi:10.2196/11372 [RJ1447] View web page

Pocuca, N., Hides, L., Quinn, C., White, A., Mewton, L., Newton, N., C., Clare, N., Slade, T., Chapman, C., Andrews, G., Teesson, M., Allsop, S. and McBride, N. (2018). The interactive effects of personality profiles and perceived peer drinking on early adolescent drinking. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 32, (2), pp. 230-236. doi:10.1037/adb0000322 [RJ1248] View web page

Teesson, M., Newton, N., C., Slade, T., Chapman, C., Allsop, S., Hides, L., McBride, N., Mewton, L., Tonks, Z., Birrell, L., Brownhill, L. and Andrews, G. (2014). The CLIMATE schools combined study: a cluster randomised controlled trial of a universal Internet-based prevention program for youth substance misuse, depression and anxiety. BMC Psychiatry, 14, (32), pp. 1-10. doi:10.1186/1471-244X-14-32 [RJ979] View web page