Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY) and Online Interventions to Increase Help-seeking for Anxiety and/or Depression
Optimizing Technology Interventions for Help-Seeking for Depression and Suicidality in Sexual and Gender Minority Youth
2 other identifiers
interventional
81
1 country
1
Brief Summary
the investigators will use 4 technology based tools (combinations of youtube videos, links to online resources, tiktok videos, and other media) in a study of 96 Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY) to determine the effectiveness of them in helping youth to seek out mental health help. Participants will be divided into 1 of 16 groups and will interact with other participants anonymously on Discord. Each group will have access to 1, 2, 3, or all 4 of the tools which are categorized by a specific subject (except for one group who will have no access to the tools in order to compare this outcome against those who use the tools). There will be a survey before starting the Discord portion which will last 4 weeks, and a survey afterwards.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable anxiety
Started Mar 2024
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable anxiety
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
September 27, 2023
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
October 16, 2023
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
March 8, 2024
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 1, 2024
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 1, 2024
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
October 21, 2025
CompletedOctober 21, 2025
October 1, 2025
3 months
September 27, 2023
May 30, 2025
October 5, 2025
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (10)
Feasibility - IP Use Proportion
Average proportions of IP components completed out of IP components available per individual participant (IP component defined as opportunity offered to interact with the intervention - some individuals will have more opportunities offered than others due to factorial randomization)
Over one month
Feasibility - IP Use Days
Average Proportion of days IP is used per individual (number of days session accessed over total offered which is 28 days)
Over one month
Feasibility - IP Use Time
Average length of time IP is used (length of session)
Over one month
Usability
System Usability Scale, min: 0, Max: 100, higher scores mean better usability
1 month
Acceptability of the Intervention Principle
Open-ended questions about whether the Discord server and the tools used were: helpful; whether it was affirming of SGM status; if timing and amount of content were appropriate, if privacy and confidentiality were maintained, and if they had any negative consequences of participation (e.g. parent questioning them )
1 month
Help-Seeking Intention From Counselor or Therapist - TAU vs Not TAU
single help-seeking intention ruler-based question (i.e. 'I intend to seek help from a counselor or therapist for my mental health problems' scale 1-7, a higher number signifying a higher intent to seek help
1 month
Help-Seeking Intention From Counselor or Therapist - Intervention 1 vs. Not 1
single help-seeking intention ruler-based question (i.e. 'I intend to seek help from a counselor or therapist for my mental health problems' scale 1-7, a higher number signifying a higher intent to seek help
1 month
Help-Seeking Intention From Counselor or Therapist - Intervention 2 vs. Not 2
single help-seeking intention ruler-based question (i.e. 'I intend to seek help from a counselor or therapist for my mental health problems' scale 1-7, a higher number signifying a higher intent to seek help
1 month
Help-Seeking Intention From Counselor or Therapist - Intervention 3 vs. Non-3
single help-seeking intention ruler-based question (i.e. 'I intend to seek help from a counselor or therapist for my mental health problems' scale 1-7, a higher number signifying a higher intent to seek help
1 month
Help-Seeking Intention From Counselor or Therapist - Intervention 4 vs. Not 4
single help-seeking intention ruler-based question (i.e. 'I intend to seek help from a counselor or therapist for my mental health problems' scale 1-7, a higher number signifying a higher intent to seek help
1 month
Secondary Outcomes (40)
Social Support - TAU vs Not TAU
1 month
Social Support - Intervention 1 vs. Not 1
1 month
Social Support - Intervention 2 vs. Not 2
1 month
Social Support - Intervention 3 vs. Not 3
1 month
Social Support - Intervention 4 vs. Not 4
1 month
- +35 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (8)
Social Isolation
1 month
Antidepressant Outcome Expectations
1 month
Beliefs About Therapy
1 month
- +5 more other outcomes
Study Arms (16)
Control Group - No Interventions
ACTIVE COMPARATORArm 1 will have not be given any of the interventions and will be a control group.
Intervention 1 - Intersectionality and Identity
EXPERIMENTALArm 2 will be given access to intervention 1. It will have video and text content focused on identity and intersectionality.
Interventions 1 and 2 - Intersectionality and Identity/Confidentiality and Privacy
EXPERIMENTALArm 3 will be given access to with the video and text content focused on intersectionality and confidentiality
Interventions 1, 2, and 3 - Intersectionality/Confidentiality/Educational Tools
EXPERIMENTALArm 4 will be given access to with the video and text content focused on intersectionality, confidentiality, and education about identity
Interventions 1, 2, and 4 - Intersectionality/Confidentiality/Finding Affirming Care
EXPERIMENTALArm 5 will be given access to interventions 1, 2, and 4, with the video and text content focused on intersectionality, confidentiality, and determining if caregivers are affirming
Interventions 1, 2, 3 and 4 - Intersectionality/Confidentiality/Educational Tools/Affirming Care
EXPERIMENTALArm 6 will be given access to all 4 interventions, with the video and text content focused on intersectionality, confidentiality, education about identity, and determining if caregivers are affirming
Interventions 1 and 3 - Intersectionality and Identity/Educational Tools
EXPERIMENTALArm 7 will be given access to interventions 1 and 3, with the video and text content focused on intersectionality and education about identity
Interventions 1, 3, and 4 - Intersectionality and Identity/Educational Tools/Finding Affirming Care
EXPERIMENTALArm 8 will be given access to interventions 1, 3, and 4, with the video and text content focused on intersectionality, education about identity and determining if caregivers are affirming.
Interventions 1 and 4 - Intersectionality and Identity/Finding Affirming Care
EXPERIMENTALArm 9 will be given access to interventions 1 and 4, with the video and text content focused on intersectionality and determining if caregivers are affirming.
Intervention 2 - Confidentiality and Privacy
EXPERIMENTALArm 10 will be given access to intervention 2, with the video and text content focused on confidentiality
Interventions 2 and 3 - Confidentiality and Privacy/Educational Tools
EXPERIMENTALArm 11 will be given access to interventions 2, and 3. Video and text content will focus on confidentiality and education about identity.
Interventions 2, 3 and 4 - Confidentiality and Privacy/Educational Tools/Finding Affirming Care
EXPERIMENTALArm 12 will be given access to interventions 2, 3, and 4. Video and text content will focus on confidentiality, education about identity, and determine if caregivers are affirming.
Interventions 2 and 4 - Confidentiality and Privacy/Finding Affirming Care
EXPERIMENTALArm 13 will be given access to interventions 2 and 4. Video and text content will focus on confidentiality and determining if caregivers are affirming.
Intervention 3 - Educational Tools
EXPERIMENTALArm 14 will be given access to intervention 3. Video and text content will focus on education about identity
Interventions 3 and 4 - Educational Tools/Finding Affirming Care
EXPERIMENTALArm 15 will be given access to interventions 3 and 4. Video and text content will focus on educational tools about identity and determining if caregivers are affirming.
Intervention 4 - Finding Affirming Care
EXPERIMENTALArm 16 will be given access to intervention 4, with video and text content focusing on determining if caregivers are affirming.
Interventions
Participants will use the computer application, Discord, a social media site that allows for sharing of content and interaction with other people in a variety of forms (video chat, direct messaging, and talking in group chat areas). We will be using the group chat function to set up discussion forums where there will be video and text resources focused on matters of intersectionality and identity. Participants will do at least one activity from three types each week for four weeks. The three activity types will have the participants engage with the content and then either discuss it in the forum ("Talk about it"), write a review about the content discussing why/why not they like it ("Rate it"), or Attempt to use the knowledge or skills to accomplish a task offline ("Try it").
Participants will use the computer application, Discord, a social media site that allows for sharing of content and interaction with other people in a variety of forms (video chat, direct messaging, and talking in group chat areas). We will be using the group chat function to set up discussion forums where there will be video and text resources focused on Confidentiality for caregivers. Participants will do at least one activity from three types each week for four weeks. The three activity types will have the participants engage with the content and then either discuss it in the forum ("Talk about it"), write a review about the content discussing why/why not they like it ("Rate it"), or Attempt to use the knowledge or skills to accomplish a task offline ("Try it").
Participants will use the computer application, Discord, a social media site that allows for sharing of content and interaction with other people in a variety of forms (video chat, direct messaging, and talking in group chat areas). We will be using the group chat function to set up discussion forums where there will be video and text resources focused on matters of the education of family and friends about identity. Participants will do at least one activity from three types each week for four weeks. The three activity types will have the participants engage with the content and then either discuss it in the forum ("Talk about it"), write a review about the content discussing why/why not they like it ("Rate it"), or Attempt to use the knowledge or skills to accomplish a task offline ("Try it").
Participants will use the computer application, Discord, a social media site that allows for sharing of content and interaction with other people in a variety of forms (video chat, direct messaging, and talking in group chat areas). We will be using the group chat function to set up discussion forums where there will be video and text resources focused on matters of finding affirming caregivers. Participants will do at least one activity from three types each week for four weeks. The three activity types will have the participants engage with the content and then either discuss it in the forum ("Talk about it"), write a review about the content discussing why/why not they like it ("Rate it"), or Attempt to use the knowledge or skills to accomplish a task offline ("Try it").
Control Group - Will be given no interventions
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- have access to a smartphone; have finished 6th grade; have access to and intellectual and physical ability to use the internet; fit demographic criteria (SGMY); and have symptoms of depression and/or anxiety that are mild or more severe (PHQ-8 and/or GAD-7 = 5 or above)
- We will routinely monitor the sample to attempt to reach the following proportions:
- % ages 14-16 and 50% ages 17-19 50% identify as sexual minority but cisgender and 50% identify as not cisgender at least 40% identify as a racial or ethnic minority
- If any of the proportions are reached (e.g. if 60% of recruited sample identify as not belonging to a racial or ethnic minority we will change screen settings to exclude those who are not
You may not qualify if:
- no access to smart phone or internet, did not complete the 6th grade, not able to use internet, depression and anxiety are less than mild (PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scores \<5); presently are in ongoing psychotherapy (i.e. have attended or plan to attend more than 1 session).
- If they have been in therapy within the past 3 months
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Virtual Social Media Based Recruitment
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Dr. Ana Radovic
- Organization
- University of Pittsburgh
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Ana Radovic, MD, MSc
University of Pittsburgh/UPMC
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- Yes
- Restrictive Agreement
- No
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
- Intervention Model
- FACTORIAL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Assistant professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
September 27, 2023
First Posted
October 16, 2023
Study Start
March 8, 2024
Primary Completion
June 1, 2024
Study Completion
June 1, 2024
Last Updated
October 21, 2025
Results First Posted
October 21, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-10
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR
- Time Frame
- Upon Completion of the study (estimated June 2024) and it will be available indefinitely via contacting Dr. Radovic
- Access Criteria
- Completed Data and results will be fully available upon request to any interested parties via email
Trial outcome data can be accessed by contacting the study principal investigator.