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Table 1 Eligibility criteria for the host trial

From: The effectiveness of a low-intensity problem-solving intervention for common adolescent mental health problems in New Delhi, India: protocol for a school-based, individually randomized controlled trial with an embedded stepped-wedge, cluster randomized controlled recruitment trial

Participant group

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

Adolescents

Eligible adolescent participants will be:

i) Enrolled as a student in grades 9–12 (approximately 13–20 years in age) in one of the six collaborating schools;

ii) Experiencing elevated mental health symptoms, based on response in the borderline or abnormal range using cut-offs derived from a normative school-based sample in India (≥ 19 for boys and ≥ 20 for girls) [34] on the adolescent-reported Total Difficulties score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) [35];

iii) Experiencing significant distress and/or functional impairment, based on response in the abnormal range (≥ 2) on the adolescent-reported SDQ Impact Supplement;

iv) Experiencing difficulties for > 1 month, based on response to the adolescent-reported chronicity item of the SDQ Impact Supplement; and

v) For adolescents under 18 years of age, able to provide informed assent to participate and supported by parental consent; or

vi) For adolescents over 18 years of age, able to provide informed consent to participate

Adolescents will be excluded, if they:

i) Require urgent medical or mental health care (defined as needing emergency treatment or in-patient admission);

ii) Are currently receiving treatment for a mental health problem;

iii) Received school counseling in the preceding 6 months as a participant in PRIDE pilot studies;

iv) Exhibit difficulties in written and/or spoken Hindi that may impede their ability to participate fully in trial procedures; and/or

v) Are unable to communicate clearly (e.g., due to a speech, learning or hearing disability)

Parents

Eligible parent participants will be:

i) A primary parental caregiver or guardian for the index adolescent;

ii) Able to provide informed consent for their own participation, and for the participation of the index adolescent (if aged under 18 years); and

iii) If the index adolescent is aged age 18 years or older, permission for parental involvement has been provided by the adolescent

Parents will be excluded, if they:

i) Are unable to communicate clearly (e.g., due to a speech or hearing disability);

ii) Are unable to comprehend Hindi; and/or

iii) Are intoxicated at the point of consent or assessment