The Effectiveness of Mental Wellness Youth Hubs in Hong Kong
A Quasi-controlled Study on the Effectiveness of Mental Wellness Youth Hubs in Hong Kong
1 other identifier
interventional
1,300
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This study sets out to evaluate (i) whether the model in phase two can improve symptoms, quality of life, functioning, and psychological outcomes in young people utilising the hub services (n = 600) compared to those in the community controls (n = 600), (ii) the mechanisms that may drive these improvements, and (iii) whether any particular subgroup(s) of youths (e.g., gender, socio-economic status, migrant status) may benefit more from this service model. The experiment group will include 600 hub users who are not currently using psychiatric medications and do not have a formal diagnosis at the time of enrolling in the hub activity. The control group will also comprise of 600 young people, recruited from a community cohort managed by the research team. The community cohort is accessible via the Youth Epidemiological Study Online platform (YES online), which recruits young people aged 12 to 24 years. Only YES online participants who are not using the service of LevelMind@JC and psychiatric medications will be recruited for this study. The two groups will be matched in age, gender, and baseline distress level measured by the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). There will also be a substudy assessing the effect of four service models: NLPRA eClinic, Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) step-up care, general practitioners, and hub casework support service on symptom-based mental health outcome, comparing a cohort of young people receiving these four services respectively. A total of 252 participants will be recrruited. Another substudy will be conducted to investigate the extent to which participation in Tier 1 activities contributes to improvements in targeted outcome areas, assessing young people (n = 675) before and after their participation of Tier 1 activities. A consecutive sampling will be used, where a subject who meets the criteria of inclusion will be selected until this required sample size is achieved.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started May 2025
Typical duration for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
March 7, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
March 10, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
May 6, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
January 1, 2028
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
April 1, 2028
June 6, 2025
June 1, 2025
2.7 years
March 7, 2025
June 3, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (3)
Change in Psychological Distress
The 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (scores range from 0 to 24 where a higher score indicates a worse outcome)
Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Well-being
The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (scores range from 0 to 25 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)
Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Quality of Life
The 12-item Short-Form 12 Health Survey (scores range from 0 to 100 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)
Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Secondary Outcomes (8)
Change in Depressive, Anxiety, and Stress Levels
Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Social and Occupational Functioning
Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Sleep Quality
Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Physical Exercise
Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Self-Esteem Level
Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
- +3 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (6)
Hub User Group
EXPERIMENTALThis group receives community-based mental wellness youth hub services for young people to enhance personal strengths and overall mental well-being.
Non-hub User Community Control Group
NO INTERVENTIONThis group does not receive any youth services in the community.
eClinic User Group
ACTIVE COMPARATORThis group receives the eClinic service provided by New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
ICCMW group
ACTIVE COMPARATORThis group receives the eClinic service provided by Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) step-up care.
GP group
ACTIVE COMPARATORThis group receives services provided by general practitioners.
Hub Casework grpup
ACTIVE COMPARATORThis group receives services from hub casework support, as well as from NLPRA eClinic, ICCMW, and general practitioners.
Interventions
Mental Wellness Youth Hubs Intervention aims to set up a series of community-based hubs for young people to enhance cognitive abilities, personal strengths and overall mental well-being. Among the experimental group participants (hub users), they are further divided into three tiers according to their psychological distress level. Tier 1 are youths with mild psychological distress level, who will be invited to participate in some innovative and interesting youth projects and activities (e.g., board game and floral artistry). Tier 2 are youths who have moderate level of psychological distress, or at risk for mental illness. Trained social workers will offer them with specific interventions (e.g., CBT, sleep intervention) according to their needs. Tier 3 are youths with severe level of psychological distress who are at risk for mental disorders. Diagnostic and medical assessment services will be delivered by psychiatrist or clinical psychologists.
The eClinic treatment spans eight to fourteen week and is designed for individuals with moderate to severe mental health issues. The service is provided in a hybrid format, incorporating an in-person initial screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7, followed by online self-learning resources and sessions with a therapist. Pre- and post-treatment assessments as well as follow-ups will be used to keep track of service users' progress.
Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) are the main community-based mental health services in Hong Kong. However, their reach among young people is limited, as their broad target age range primarily focuses on middle-aged individuals. ICCMW offers comprehensive, district-based community support and social rehabilitation services, from early prevention to risk management, for people in mental recovery, those with suspected mental health issues, their families and carers, and residents within the service area, all accessible through a single-entry point.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- For hub user group: 12- to 24-year-old hub users who receive community-based mental wellness youth hub services for young people.
- For community control group: 12- to 24-year-old community youths who do not receive any youth services in the community.
- For eClinic user group: 12- to 24-year-old eClinic service users.
You may not qualify if:
- Youths with known diagnosis of psychiatric disorders (including Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorder, Personality Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychotic Disorder)
- Youths who receive psychiatric medication (including antidepressants, antipsychotics and antiepileptic drugs)
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- The University of Hong Konglead
- The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trustcollaborator
- The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kongcollaborator
- Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kongcollaborator
- Hong Kong Christian Servicecollaborator
- Neighbourhood Advice-Action Councilcollaborator
- St. James' Settlementcollaborator
- Tung Wah Group of Hospitalscollaborator
- Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Associationcollaborator
- Yan Oi Tongcollaborator
- Chinese YMCA of Hong Kongcollaborator
- New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Associationcollaborator
- The Salvation Army, Hong Kong and Macau Commandcollaborator
- Hong Kong Playground Association (HKPA)collaborator
- Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limitedcollaborator
- Hong Kong Children and Youth Services (HKCYS)collaborator
- Hong Kong Federation of Youth's Group (HKFYG)collaborator
Study Sites (1)
Community
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD
The University of Hong Kong
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- NON RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Associate Professor
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
March 7, 2025
First Posted
March 10, 2025
Study Start
May 6, 2025
Primary Completion (Estimated)
January 1, 2028
Study Completion (Estimated)
April 1, 2028
Last Updated
June 6, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-06
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share