JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mental health difficulties affect nearly one billion people globally. Many of these emerge during youth, making early intervention crucial. Vietnam and Cambodia both have young populations, recent histories of conflict and ongoing vulnerabilities, including poverty and urban-rural inequality. Although many children and young people (CYP) experience common mental disorders, access to care is limited by stigma, low mental health literacy and reliance on medicalised, urban-centred services. Building the capacity of community-based stakeholders to deliver mental health interventions offers a promising strategy for health systems strengthening in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Mental health capacity Building and stRengthening In Global HealTh systems (M-BRIGHT) study seeks to build capacity for delivery of a youth mental health intervention in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Objective:

This protocol outlines the intervention phase (phase 3) of the study. This cluster-randomised controlled feasibility trial aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability and potential effects of a co-adapted school-based mental health literacy intervention delivered to adolescents in Cambodia and Vietnam.

Methods:

Seven secondary schools in each country (five intervention, two control) will participate. We aim to recruit ≥175 adolescents in grades 10-11 (aged around 14-18 years at recruitment) per arm in each country (≥700 adolescents overall), along with one parent/guardian per adolescent and ten trained intervention providers per country. The intervention will be delivered over one school year by providers trained in an earlier phase of the study. The intervention combines indoor psychoeducation sessions and peer-led outdoor activities. A mixed methods approach will be used to assess its feasibility, acceptability, fidelity and potential effects. Quantitative measures will be collected through questionnaires at baseline, endline and three months follow-up, including mental health literacy, mental health, wellbeing and parent-reported behaviour. Qualitative interviews and focus groups with adolescents, parents/guardians and intervention providers will explore intervention acceptability. Feasibility criteria include recruitment ≥85%, retention ≥70%, an average of 70% attendance at sessions and ≥70% of sessions delivered as planned.

Results:

Recruitment took place from September-December (Vietnam) and in November (Cambodia) 2025. Baseline data collection took place in October (Vietnam) and November (Cambodia) 2025; 746 participants were enrolled at baseline across all sites and arms. The intervention will run until May 2026 (Vietnam) and August 2026 (Cambodia), with final follow-up outcome measures expected to be collected by September 2026 (Vietnam) and December 2026 (Cambodia).

Conclusions:

This study will assess whether a co-adapted, school-based mental health literacy intervention is feasible and acceptable in Cambodia and Vietnam and will explore its potential effects. Findings may inform a future clinical trial and contribute to the evidence base for youth mental health systems strengthening in LMICs. Clinical Trial: ISRCTN, ISRCTN66038422; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN66038422