The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the SolanoConnex.org program on help-seeking attitudes and help-seeking behaviors among users compared to a control group. This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design with two parallel arms. Participants in the intervention group will receive full access and orientation to SolanoConnex.org, including multiple features designed to enhance engagement with local mental health resources. Participants in the control group will receive publicly available mental health resources. The primary outcome is any use of mental health services including conversations and communication, digital engagement and media consumption, direct service use or self-help and alternative support all of which will be self-reported through digital diaries prompted every two weeks. Secondary outcomes are endorsed and anticipated Stigma related to mental health, help-seeking attitudes, self-efficacy in seeking mental health care. Potential covariates include demographics, past mental health service use and satisfaction, readiness to change, and discrimination experiences during past healthcare use.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
200
Participants in the intervention group will be blinded to their study arm status. They will receive full access and orientation to SolanoConnex.org, including multiple features designed to enhance engagement with local mental health resources. First, they will be granted access to the SolanoConnex.org website and mobile application, educational materials, social media and resource navigation. To facilitate ease of use, participants will receive a step-by-step guide and a tutorial video demonstrating how to navigate the platform's features. Additionally, they will gain access to SolanoConnex-produced videos and podcasts which profiles mental health providers and covers various mental health topics. To further support participants, patient navigators will be available to provide personalized assistance, helping individuals connect with relevant services. At the outset of the study, participants will receive detailed instructions on how to access and utilize patient navigator support.
Touro University, California
Vallejo, California, United States
RECRUITINGUse of any mental health services
Mental health service utilization (i.e. appointment with therapist, attendance at grief group, commencement of PTSD treatment)
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 4 month study period
Stigma Related to Mental Health
Endorsed and Anticipated Stigma Inventory (EASI): The EASI is a 40-item self-report inventory that consists of 5 scales assessing mental health beliefs that may be particularly salient for military and Veteran populations, particularly with regard to their willingness to seek mental health treatment. Respondents are asked to rate 8 items in each of 5 scales, 3 that address key aspects of endorsed stigma and 2 that assess key aspects of anticipated stigma. Each scale uses a 5-point Likert-type response format: 1 (strongly disagree), 2 (somewhat disagree), 3 (neither agree nor disagree), 4 (somewhat agree), 5 (strongly agree). Items within each of the 5 scales can be summed to create individual 5 scale scores. The higher the score, the higher the stigma.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 4 month period
Mental Health Help Seeking Attitudes
Mental Help Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS): The MHSAS contains nine items which produce a single mean score. The MHSAS uses a seven-point semantic differential scale. In order to properly calculate the MHSAS mean score, where a higher mean score indicates more favorable attitudes, it is necessary to reverse-code items 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 4 month period
Self-efficacy in seeking Mental Health Care
Self-efficacy in Seeking Mental Health Care Scale: Sum all 9 items. Higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy for seeking mental health care.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of the 4 month period
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