Co-STARS: a feasibility evaluation of a co-produced mental health literacy training package to reduce mental health inequities for Black young people in underserved communities – study protocol for a randomised controlled trial with an external pilot, process evaluation and economic analysis

Introduction: Severe mental illness such as psychosis is among the most disabling illnesses worldwide, disproportionately affecting minoritised ethnic groups and those in socioeconomic disadvantage. In the UK, people from Black ethnic backgrounds are more likely to experience a first episode of psychosis and to be detained under the Mental Health Act than White British people. There is a clear need for mental health services to improve cultural awareness and understanding of the broader social needs of minoritised groups, as well as the need to improve mental health literacy (MHL) within Black communities to empower individuals to seek timely mental health support. This protocol describes our programme of work which aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of Co-STARS, which is a co-produced, culturally appropriate tiered training package.

Methods and analysis: We co-produced a culturally appropriate, place-based, tiered MHL training package (Co-STARS) to deliver within underserved Black communities and via an e-learning package implemented among staff within mental health trusts. The training will be evaluated in stages. First, a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial will assess the feasibility and acceptability (defined as participants’ perceptions of the training’s relevance, usefulness and delivery) of a lived experience-led MHL training package delivered by Black young people with experience of mental ill health, to underserved communities in Birmingham, UK. Acceptability will be quantified through participation and completion rates and explored qualitatively via focus groups and interviews. Second, a stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial will evaluate the feasibility of an e-learning training programme for mental health professionals. We will embed a process evaluation to explore change mechanisms and identify barriers and enablers for future implementation. Third, we will use realist-informed participatory systems mapping and novel epidemiological analyses to explore downstream effects (ie, improved care access for Black ethno-racial groups within the intervention areas). Last, a cost-effectiveness framework will be developed to assess whether the intervention is good value for money in future efficacy trials. In the cluster trial, eight clusters will be randomised to the intervention arm (face-to-face training in the community) and control arm (display of MHL materials) with pre- and post-assessments in 120 participants from 8 clusters, 3 weeks apart. In the stepped wedge trial, six clusters (clinical teams within NHS mental health trusts) including 120 NHS staff in total, will move from control phase to intervention phase in a stepped wedge manner, with pre-assessments and post-assessments.

Ethics and dissemination: This proposal was reviewed by the Research Governance of the University of Birmingham and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant reviewers. Ethics approval was granted by East of Scotland Research Ethics Service. The findings will be communicated in research conferences, stakeholder meetings, via social media, through publication in peer-reviewed journals and as a policy document.

Trial registration number: ISRCTN10517405.