Teen Helpline Motivational Interviewing Study

NCT07639736 | Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: IRB-24-0310K23MH137387
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 206
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The proposed study will establish a foundation for research within peer-delivered helplines for teens. It aims to evaluate the impact of a Motivational Interviewing training at peer-to-peer helpline. The study will leverage emerging technologies to surmount the challenges of providing tailored training to a large and diverse mental health workforce at scale. Aim 1: Adapt Motivational Interviewing (MI) strategies for use in a teen peer-delivered text-based digital helpline. Aim 2: Co-design performance feedback (PF) and facilitated practice (FP) processes to support MI adherence among peer helpers. Aim 3: Examine feasibility, acceptability, and initial outcomes in a pilot feasibility trial. Peer helpers (N=50) will be randomized to receive MI training or MI training + PF-FP.

Conditions

Implementation Research; Help Seeking

Keywords

Adolescent mental health; Implementation Science; Motivational Interviewing; Mental health helplines

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• General Help Seeking Questionnaire

  Measure of help seeking behavior

  11 months (consent to post 6-month follow up)

• Patient Health Questionnaire-8

  Measure helpline user distress

  11 months (consent to post 6-month follow up)

Study Arms (2)

Performance feedback and facilitated practice

EXPERIMENTAL

Helpline volunteers randomized into this study arm will receive additional MI training through feedback and practice (they will receive standard helpline training and MI training).

Other: Motivational Interviewing Training

Training as usual

NO INTERVENTION

Helpline volunteers randomized into this study arm will not receive additional MI training through feedback or practice (they will receive standard helpline training only).

Interventions

Motivational Interviewing Training OTHER

All participants will receive Motivational Interviewing training through an educational workshop. Participants in the intervention arm will receive performance feedback and facilitated practice (implementation strategy). Those in the control arm will receive training as usual.

Performance feedback and facilitated practice

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 13 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• All current teen helpers (N=255) will be invited to participate in the research study prior to the MI workshops. Helper participants who provide assent and documented parental consent will be asked to complete study measures prior to the first MI training session (see Human Subjects Study Timeline, Aim 3). Helpers who wish to participate in the research study must have attended and completed the MI training activities. Additionally, helpers must have the ability to participate in online (i.e., access to a computer, tablet, or smart phone with a videocamera and microphone) research activities. Given that Teen Talk App helpers volunteer remotely on the Teen Talk App, they will likely all have access to electronics needed to participate in online activities. Teen Line staff will similarly have access to this technology. The age range of current Teen Talk peer helpers is 14-19 years.

You may not qualify if:

• Helpers who indicate they plan to end their Teen Talk App or Teen Line activities within the next 8 months will not be invited to participate in the research study, due to the study length. Helper study participants, regardless of condition, will attend a monthly training session (TAU: monthly CE offered by Teen Talk App; experimental condition: PF-FP sessions). The age range of current Teen Talk peer helpers is 14-19 years.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• San Diego State University: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

San Diego State University

San Diego, California, 92182-8000, United States

RECRUITING

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2026
• First Posted: June 10, 2026
• Study Start: August 28, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 31, 2029
• Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

US (1)