Acceptability and Utility of an Open-Access, Online Single-Session Intervention Platform for Adolescent Mental Health

Many youths with mental health needs are unable to access care. Single-session interventions (SSIs) have helped reduce youth psychopathology across multiple trials, promising to broaden access to effective, low-intensity supports. Online, self-guided SSIs may be uniquely scalable, particularly if they are freely available for as-needed use. However, the acceptability of online SSI and their efficacy have remained unexamined outside of controlled trials, and their practical utility is poorly understood.

We evaluated the perceived acceptability and proximal effects of Project YES (Youth Empowerment & Support), an open-access platform offering three online SSIs for youth internalizing distress.

After selecting one of three SSIs to complete, participants (ages 11-17 years) reported pre- and post-SSI levels of clinically relevant outcomes that SSIs may target (eg, hopelessness, self-hate) and perceived SSI acceptability. User-pattern variables, demographics, and depressive symptoms were collected to characterize youths engaging with YES.

From September 2019 through March 2020, 694 youths accessed YES, 539 began, and 187 completed a 30-minute, self-guided SSI. SSI completers reported clinically elevated depressive symptoms, on average, and were diverse on several dimensions (53.75% non-white; 78.10% female; 43.23% sexual minorities). Regardless of SSI selection, completers reported pre- to post-program reductions in hopelessness (d_av=0.53; d_z=0.71), self-hate (d_av=0.32; d_z=0.61), perceived control (d_av=0.60; d_z=0.72) and agency (d_av=0.39; d_z=0.50). Youths rated all SSIs as acceptable (eg, enjoyable, likely to help peers).

Results support the perceived acceptability and utility of open-access, free-of-charge SSIs for youth experiencing internalizing distress.

Open Science Framework; osf.io/e52p3.