Implementing a Community Bullying Awareness Intervention in an Adolescent Psychiatric Unit: A Feasibility Study

ProblemAdolescents with a mental health diagnosis are at risk of involvement in bullying. We tested the feasibility of a bullying awareness group intervention in an established inpatient psychiatric unit milieu.MethodsAdolescents admitted to an urban inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit were eligible to attend two sequential 1-hour Bullying Awareness intervention group sessions. Data were collected before the first session (T1), post-both sessions (T2), and following discharge from the unit (T3).FindingsA total of 65 adolescents were enrolled; most were female (66.2%), African-American (60%), and in grades 10 to 12 (57%). Intervention feasibility was achieved as > 80% of participants completed all components of the intervention and 100% completed all study questionnaires at T1 and T2. Feasibility of the follow-up (T3) was not achieved. Bullying knowledge scores improved significantly from T1 to T2.ConclusionsThe intervention is feasible to implement in an inpatient adolescent psychiatry unit and can improve adolescents' bullying knowledge.