The BEAM program: Evaluating the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of a mental health training program for secondary school Year Advisors

Secondary schools are increasingly supporting adolescents’ mental health and well-being, yet many teachers report that they lack the skills and confidence to do so. Building Educators’ skills in Adolescent Mental Health (BEAM) is a web-based training program developed to improve secondary school teachers’ knowledge and confidence in caring for students’ mental health. This pilot study examined the preliminary effectiveness and acceptability of the BEAM program for improving mental health knowledge, attitudes, confidence, helping behaviors, and psychological distress among 70 secondary school Year Advisors from NSW, Australia. Year Advisors had access to the BEAM program for 6 weeks. Self-report surveys, delivered at baseline, immediately after the training (6-weeks post baseline) and 3-months later were used to measure changes in training outcomes. At completion of the training, participants reported higher levels of confidence and helping behaviours. Psychological distress was also lower. Findings indicated that the BEAM program may be beneficial for improving Year Advisors abilities to care for students’ mental health; however, some program modifications are required to increase completions.