BACKGROUND: Advanced interventions to enhance the mental health literacy (MHL) of educational professionals are now available, though their effectiveness varies, likely due to contextual differences. To adapt these interventions for use in other countries, a systematic and tailored approach is required to maintain the logical framework. This study describes the systematic process of selecting and adapting an intervention to improve MHL of Dutch secondary school educational professionals, using Intervention Mapping (IM) Adapt.

METHODS: IM Adapt regards six steps: (1) assess needs and organizational capacity; (2) find evidence-based interventions; (3) plan adaptations; (4) make adaptations; (5) plan for implementation; and (6) plan for evaluation.

RESULTS: The outcomes of a needs assessment were used to develop a logic model of the problem and of change, leading to the intervention goal of increasing mental health awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy among end-users. A logic model of the problem and of change visually outlines the relationship between a specific issue, its root causes, and the intended intervention to drive change. The existing evidence-based digital intervention, named LEARN, was identified as the most suitable for addressing these needs. This was done through reviewing the literature and existing intervention databases. Four main content adaptations were made to align with the distinct needs of the Dutch context and the evolving trends within the field of mental health, resulting in LEARN-NL, a digital mental health literacy intervention for Dutch educational professionals. Finally, implementers were identified, and a mixed methods feasibility study was set up.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that some content adaptations to LEARN were needed to address the needs and (learning) preferences of educational professionals in the Dutch education context, but that the majority of the existing intervention could be upheld. Existing evidence-based MHL interventions for educational professionals are useful as a basis for the adaptation and transfer to other countries. IM Adapt is a valuable framework for the systematic planning of adaptations to a new context while retaining its essential elements.