Abstract

Background: Youth mental health is a growing concern, and innovative approaches to service delivery are needed. This study evaluates the efficacy of a school-based web-based mental health service in Australia through a cluster randomized controlled trial. Methods: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 30 secondary schools across Australia. Schools were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which received the web-based mental health service, or the control group, which continued with standard care. The primary outcomes were changes in mental health symptoms and help-seeking behaviors among students, measured using validated scales. Secondary outcomes included academic performance and school engagement. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in mental health symptoms compared to the control group. Help-seeking behaviors increased significantly in the intervention group. There were also positive effects on academic performance and school engagement. Conclusions: The web-based mental health service was effective in improving mental health outcomes and increasing help-seeking behaviors among students. These findings suggest that web-based interventions can be a valuable addition to school-based mental health services.