This study compares a choice-driven, interactive, evidence-informed storytelling web-based app intervention with links to resources and treatment (Tx) recommendations (made by a character via her blog) and Tx locator, to a web-based app with links to publicly available informational internet videos, MH resources, and a treatment locator for at least moderately anxious/depressed untreated English and Spanish speaking Latinas to determine if a story-based, character-driven approach is more effective for catalyzing mental health treatment initiation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
700
Catalina transmedia web-based app intervention with 10 story-based videos (including bonus story extender videos) totaling 31 minutes plus the blog of the character, "Veronica," which has MH resource links including Veronica's recommendations of at least 3 local Latinx-serving clinics in LA and Orange County ZIP Codes that offer low-cost MH Tx.
Links to informational videos (totaling 31 minutes) on depression and anxiety, listing of the same 3 local Latinx-serving clinics in LA and Orange County ZIP codes that offer low-cost MH Tx, and links to nationally available websites that offer resources (including access to service locators).
UCLA
Los Angeles, California, United States
RECRUITINGNumber of Participants Initiating Mental Health Treatment (MH Tx)
MH Tx initiation, defined as completing a MH specialist visit (initial evaluation or therapy visit) or a primary care visit that results in a pharmacotherapy prescription as documented by EHR data at the site identified by the participant as where they initiated MH Tx.
Time frame: 9 months
Psychological openness
Psychological openness (attitudes) subscale score of the Inventory of Attitudes towards Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS). The IASMHS is a 24 item scale and has three internally consistent factors: psychological openness, help-seeking propensity, and indifference to stigma. The subscales,range from 0 to 32. Higher scores indicate more positive attitude toward seeking mental health services.
Time frame: 9 months
Mental health help seeking attitude
The Mental Health Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS) contains 9 items which produce a single mean score, ranging 1-7. It measures respondents' overall evaluation (unfavorable vs. favorable) of their seeking help from a mental health professional if they found themselves to be dealing with a mental health concern. A higher score indicates a more favorable attitude toward seeking help.
Time frame: 9 months
Propensity to seek help
Help seeking propensity subscale score of the Inventory of Attitudes towards Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS). The IASMHS is a 24 item scale and has three internally consistent factors: psychological openness, help-seeking propensity, and indifference to stigma. Subscales range from 0 to 32. Higher scores indicate a greater willingness to seek help.
Time frame: 9 months
Indifference to Stigma
Indifference to Stigma subscale score of the Inventory of Attitudes towards Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS). The IASMHS is a 24 item scale and has three internally consistent factors: psychological openness, help-seeking propensity, and indifference to stigma. The subscale contains 8 items related to how concerned an individual would feel if others knew they were seeking psychological help, with each item rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 (disagree) to 4 (agree); a higher score indicates a greater indifference to stigma; meaning the person is less concerned about others finding out about their mental health treatment.
Time frame: 9 months
Stigma Concerns
Stigma Concerns about Care (SCC) is a 3-item questionnaire with responses on a 1-10 point scale, with higher scores indicating more concern about stigma.
Time frame: 9 months
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