scholarly journals A Mobile Phone–Based Intervention to Improve Mental Health Among Homeless Young Adults: Pilot Feasibility Trial (Preprint)

Author(s):  
Stephen M Schueller ◽  
Angela C Glover ◽  
Anne K Rufa ◽  
Claire L Dowdle ◽  
Gregory D Gross ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Youth homelessness is a substantial issue, and many youths experiencing homelessness have mental health issues as both a cause and consequence of homelessness. These youths face many barriers to receiving traditional mental health services, and as a result, only a few youths experiencing homelessness receive any form of mental health care. OBJECTIVE This project aimed to develop and determine the feasibility and acceptability of engaging young adults (ie, individuals aged 18-24 years) experiencing homelessness in a remotely delivered mental health intervention. This intervention provided brief emotional support and coping skills, drawing from cognitive behavioral principles as an introduction into psychosocial support. The intervention was piloted in a homeless shelter network. METHODS A total of 35 young adults experiencing homelessness participated in a single-arm feasibility pilot trial. Participants received a mobile phone, a service and data plan, and 1 month of support from a coach consisting of up to 3 brief phone sessions, text messaging, and mobile mental health apps. We evaluated feasibility by looking at completion of sessions as well as the overall program and acceptability with satisfaction ratings. We also collected clinical symptoms at baseline and the end of the 1-month support period. We used validity items to identify participants who might be responding inappropriately and thus only report satisfaction ratings and clinical outcomes from valid responses. RESULTS Most participants (20/35, 57%) completed all 3 of their phone sessions, with an average of 2.09 sessions (SD 1.22) completed by each participant. Participants sent an average of 15.06 text messages (SD 12.62) and received an average of 19.34 messages (SD 12.70). We found higher rates of satisfaction among the participants with valid responses, with 100% (23/23) of such participants indicating that they would recommend participation to someone else and 52% (12/23) reporting that they were very or extremely satisfied with their participation. We found very little change from pre- to posttreatment on measures of depression (d=0.27), post-traumatic stress disorder (d=0.17), and emotion regulation (d=0.10). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that it was feasible to engage homeless young adults in mental health services in this technology-based intervention with high rates of satisfaction. We did not find changes in clinical outcomes; however, we had a small sample size and a brief intervention. Technology might be an important avenue to reach young adults experiencing homelessness, but additional work could explore proper interventions to deliver with such a platform. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03620682; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03620682

10.2196/12347 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. e12347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M Schueller ◽  
Angela C Glover ◽  
Anne K Rufa ◽  
Claire L Dowdle ◽  
Gregory D Gross ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Frerichs ◽  
Jo Billings ◽  
Nick Barber ◽  
Anjie Chhapia ◽  
Beverley Chipp ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Loneliness is associated with negative outcomes, including increased mortality and is common among people with mental health problems. This qualitative study, which was carried out as part of a feasibility trial, aimed to understand what enables and hinders people with severe depression and/or anxiety under the care of secondary mental health services in the United Kingdom to participate in the Community Navigator programme, and make progress with feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness. The programme consisted of up to ten meetings with a Community Navigator and three optional group sessions. Methods Semi-structured interviews were carried out with participants (n = 19) shortly after programme completion. A co-produced two-stage qualitative approach, involving narrative and reflexive thematic analysis, was undertaken by members of the study’s working group, which included experts by experience, clinicians and researchers. Results The narrative analysis showed that individuals have varied goals, hold mixed feelings about meeting other people and define progress differently. From the thematic analysis, six themes were identified that explained facilitators and challenges to participating in the programme: desire to connect with others; individual social confidence; finding something meaningful to do; the accessibility of resources locally; the timing of the programme; and the participant’s relationship with the Community Navigator. Conclusions We found that people with severe depression and/or anxiety supported by secondary mental health services may want to address feelings of loneliness but find it emotionally effortful to do so and a major personal challenge. This emotional effort, which manifests in individuals differently, can make it hard for participants to engage with a loneliness programme, though it was through facing personal challenges that a significant sense of achievement was felt. Factors at the individual, interpersonal and structural level, that enable or hinder an individual’s participation should be identified early, so that people are able to make the best use out of the Community Navigator or other similar programmes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 555-561
Author(s):  
Kiara L. Moore ◽  
Lucy Lopez ◽  
David Camacho ◽  
Michelle R. Munson

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 110-133
Author(s):  
Anne Mari Steigen ◽  
Bengt Eriksson ◽  
Ragnfrid Eline Kogstad ◽  
Helge Prytz Toft ◽  
Daniel Bergh

Young adults with mental health problems who do not attend school or work constitute a significant welfare challenge in Norway. The welfare services available to these individuals include nature-based services, which are primarily located on farms and integrate the natural and agricultural environment into their daily activities. The aim of this study is to examine young adults (16–30 years old) not attending school or work who participated in nature-based services in Norway. In particular, the study analyses mental health problems among the participants and in-group variations regarding their symptoms of mental health problems using the Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-10). This paper compares symptoms of mental health problems among participants in nature-based services with those of a sample from the general population and a sample of those receiving clinical in-patient mental healthcare. A questionnaire was developed for the study and was completed by 93 participants in nature-based services. The majority of these participants were recruited from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), local mental health services, and school authorities. Results indicate that just more than half of the respondents exhibited symptoms of mental health problems based on their HSCL-10 scores. In general, they reported fewer symptoms than the clinical in-patient sample (18–30 years old) and more symptoms than the general population sample (18–19 years old). Among the participants in nature-based services, those recruited through NAV and local mental health services exhibited no differences in symptoms. Half of the participants older than 23 years in nature-based services had not completed upper secondary school. The participants, including those with symptoms of mental health problems and low expectations at the outset of their participation, generally expressed high satisfaction with the services.


2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen Vanheusden ◽  
Cornelis L. Mulder ◽  
Jan van der Ende ◽  
Frank J. van Lenthe ◽  
Johan P. Mackenbach ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 286-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurélie Schandrin ◽  
Delphine Capdevielle ◽  
Jean-Philippe Boulenger ◽  
Monique Batlaj-Lovichi ◽  
Frédérick Russet ◽  
...  

Purpose Adolescents and young adults’ mental health problems are an important health issue. However, the current organisation of the care pathway is not robust enough and transition between child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) has been identified as a period of risk. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach A retrospective survey was conducted in Montpellier University Hospital concerning transitions organised between CAMHS and AMHS between 2008 and 2009. The aim was to assess if transitions met four criteria identified in literature as warranting an optimal transition. Findings In total, 31 transitions were included. Transition was accepted by AMHS in 90 per cent of cases but its organisation was rarely optimal. Relational continuity and transition planning were absent in 80 per cent of cases. The age boundary of 16 often justified the triggering of the transition regardless of patient’s needs. Discontinuity was observed in 48 per cent of transition cases, with an average gap of three months without care. Psychiatrists reported difficulties in working together. Finally, at the moment of the survey (one to three years later), 55 per cent of patients were lost to follow-up. Research limitations/implications This is a retrospective study on a small sample but it reveals important data about transition in France. Practical implications Transition process should include collaborative working between CAMHS and AMHS, with cross-agency working and periods of parallel care. Social implications Transition-related discontinuity of care is a major socioeconomic and societal challenge for the EU. Originality/value Data related to the collaboration between CAMHS and AMHS services are scarce, especially regarding the transition in France.


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