Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Codeveloped e-Mental Health Intervention for University Students: Protocol for a...

Area of Science:

• Digital mental health interventions
• Public health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• University students experience a peak in mental health and substance use issues during a critical life transition period.
• Effective treatment and support are often inaccessible to this demographic.
• Mobile e-interventions offer a scalable solution for improving student mental health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of the Minder mobile app in improving mental health and substance use outcomes among university students.
• To evaluate the app's potential to provide scalable, integrated mental health support.

Main Methods:

• A 30-day, 2-arm, parallel assignment, single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted.
• 1496 university students were recruited and randomized into an intervention group (immediate app access) or a waitlist control group.
• Primary outcomes included changes in anxiety, depression, and alcohol consumption risk, measured using validated scales.

Main Results:

• Recruitment for the trial began in September 2022, with data collection anticipated by June 2023.
• As of May 10, 2023, 1425 participants had been enrolled in the study.
• Full results are pending completion of data collection.

Conclusions:

• This RCT protocol outlines the assessment of the Minder app's efficacy in enhancing mental health and reducing substance use among Canadian university students.
• Further research will explore secondary outcomes to better understand student well-being support.