Abstract
Background: Listen Protect Connect (LPC), a school-based program of Psychological First Aid delivered by non-mental
health professionals, is intended to support trauma-exposed children. Our objective was to implement LPC in a school
setting and assess the effectiveness of LPC on improving psychosocial outcomes associated with trauma.
Methods: A pilot quasi-experiment was conducted with middle school children self-identified or referred to the school
nurse as potentially exposed to stressful life experiences. LPC was provided to students by the school nurse, and
questionnaires were administered at baseline, 2-, 4- and 8-weeks to assess life stressors, symptoms of post-traumatic
stress disorder and depression, social support, and school connectedness. A total of 71 measurements were collected
from 20 children in all. Although a small sample size, multiple measurements allowed for multivariable mixed effects
models to analyze changes in the repeated outcomes over time.
Results: Students who received the intervention had reduced depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms from
baseline throughout follow-up period. Total social support also increased significantly from baseline through 8-weeks,
and school connectedness increased up to 4-weeks post-intervention.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential of LPC as a school-based intervention of Psychological First Aid.
Future randomized trials of LPC are needed, however.
Keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorders, Intervention studies, Schools, Child