Using Financial Incentives and Screening to Increase Engagement With Mental Health Services Among College Students in Chennai, India

NCT06887569 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2206000666
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 340
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to increase engagement with mental health services among a sample of college students in Chennai, India. The study is being conducted in partnership with an arts and science college for women in Chennai. The sample will be recruited within classrooms, during college hours. All students present in the classroom per the allotted time will be introduced to the study. The research team will obtain consent from those interested after screening them for age eligibility (between the ages of 18 and 30 years). Study participants will then complete a baseline survey including questions around demographics, perceptions of their own mental health, mental health treatment history, and the PHQ-ADS, a standardized composite screening tool for depression and anxiety. The experimental design is an RCT with 4 groups, randomized at the individual level: (1) a control group, which will watch a video with information about mental health and be able to access therapy in college and at SCARF, a mental health center in Chennai, at no cost for the duration of the study; (2) a screening group, in which, in addition to the interventions in the control group, students will be informed whether their responses to the PHQ-ADS questions fit in the standard risk categories of no, mild, moderate, or severe distress and corresponding recommendations for whether to make an appointment with a counselor/therapist; (3) a rewards group, in which, in addition to the interventions in the control group, students will be provided with a cash payment for attending their first therapy session; and (4) a combined screening and rewards group. The investigators will measure interest in, and take-up of, therapy at the individual level.

Conditions

Depression/Anxiety

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Proportion of participants expressing interest in therapy

  Student stating interest in the participant survey in booking an appointment with a study counselor, or asking to be contacted by a study counselor to discuss mental health and therapy

  Immediately after treatment (Day 1)

• Proportion of participants making an appointment

  student completing the process to make an appointment for therapy with a study counselor, through the participant survey or otherwise

  From enrolment until two months after enrolment

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Proportion of participants taking-up of a mental health care app

  Immediately after treatment (Day 1)

• Proportion of participants demanding for information about mental health

  Immediately after treatment (Day 1)

• Proportion of participants attending therapy sessions

  From enrolment until two months after enrolment

Other Outcomes (3)

• Proportion of participants reporting they would consider seeking therapy in future

  Immediately after treatment (Day 1)

• Proportion of participants reporting specific steps they would take to take care of their mental health

  Immediately after treatment (Day 1)

• Proportion of participants reporting specific motivating/inhibiting factors for taking up therapy

  Immediately after treatment (Day 1)

Study Arms (4)

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Information about mental health and therapy and free access to therapy

Screening

EXPERIMENTAL

Information about screening for depression and anxiety. Information about mental health and therapy and free access to therapy

Behavioral: Screening

Rewards

EXPERIMENTAL

Financial rewards for attending therapy. Information about mental health and therapy and free access to therapy

Behavioral: Rewards

Screening + Rewards

EXPERIMENTAL

Information about screening for depression and anxiety, and financial rewards for attending therapy (combination of previous two treatments). Information about mental health and therapy and free access to therapy

Behavioral: Rewards; Behavioral: Screening

Interventions

Rewards BEHAVIORAL

Financial rewards for attending therapy

Rewards; Screening + Rewards

Screening BEHAVIORAL

Information about screening for depression and anxiety

Screening; Screening + Rewards

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• aged 18-30
• are present in the classrooms,
• consent to participate in the study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology: lead
• Harvard University: collaborator
• University of California, Berkeley: collaborator
• University of Michigan: collaborator
• Institute for Financial Management and Research: collaborator
• Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab: collaborator
• Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF India), Chennai, India: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

College campus

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Mass Screening

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Health Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Diagnostic Services; Preventive Health Services; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Public Health Practice

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 6, 2025
• First Posted: March 20, 2025
• Study Start: January 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: May 25, 2025
• Study Completion: May 25, 2025
• Last Updated: September 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

IN (1)