NCT07683819

Brief Summary

People tend to care about what others think and often change our behaviors accordingly. But what if people do not have an accurate understanding of what others really think? Stigma is pervasive, especially in the Black and Asian American communities, which can prevent people from seeking help. This study explores whether correcting misperceptions (by showing what people really think) about depression and suicide can increase help-seeking behaviors among Black and Asian emerging adults who have untreated depression and suicidal thoughts.

Trial Health

63
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Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
160

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
9mo left

Started Jul 2026

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
not yet recruiting

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

Study Progress1%
Jul 2026May 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 25, 2025

Completed
11 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 6, 2026

Completed
24 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 30, 2026

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2026

Expected
8 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 1, 2027

Last Updated

July 7, 2026

Status Verified

July 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

1 month

First QC Date

August 25, 2025

Last Update Submit

July 2, 2026

Conditions

Help-Seeking BehaviorStigma, Social

Keywords

stigmahelp-seekingsuicidalmentaltreatment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Perceived public stigma

    The Discrimination and Devaluation Scale will be administered through a survey and assess whether people perceive their social norms (public stigma) differently. The 12 items in the scale will be averaged and will range from 0-3, with higher values indicating greater perceived public stigma.

    The intervention takes place on a single day, and so the assessments will occur at baseline and immediately following the intervention (post-test) on the same day, and then 30-day follow-up.

  • Number of participants who express intention to to seek help

    Participants will rate their intention to seek help from 12 different sources (e.g., family member, partner, pastor, friend, 9-8-8); each source will be rated using an four category ordinal item ranging from 'definitely won't do this' to 'definitely will do this'.

    Since the intervention occurs on a single day, the assessment will take place at baseline, and then immediately following the intervention (post-test), and then 30 days after as a follow-up assessment.

  • Number of participants who engage engage in help-seeking behaviors

    Actually contacting one of 12 sources of help, including contacting a provider, talking to a friend, talking to a pastor, calling 9-8-8.

    30 day follow-up

Study Arms (2)

PNF Treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

In this survey experiment, participants will receive information on the social norms data, such as information about whether other people would be friends with someone in mental health treatment.

Behavioral: Personalized Normative Feedback (PNF)

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

An attention control (presenting information about artificial intelligence)

Behavioral: Attention control

Interventions

Personalized Normative Feedback (PNF)BEHAVIORAL

Presenting participants with information about their perceptions of social norms, and actual data on social norms, while highlighting discrepancies, and gently confronting participants toward behavioral changes.

PNF Treatment
Attention controlBEHAVIORAL

The participants will engage in an activity online for the same duration as the intervention.

Control

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 29 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Adults aged 18-29
  • Asian American
  • Black American
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Depression
  • Not currently in treatment
  • English speaking

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

USC School of Social Work

Los Angeles, California, 90089, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Link, B. G., Cullen, F. T., Frank, J., & Wozniak, J. F. (1987). The social rejection of former mental patients: Understanding why labels matter. American journal of Sociology, 92(6), 1461-1500.

    BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Social StigmaHelp-Seeking Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Social BehaviorBehavior

Study Officials

  • Hans Oh, PhD

    University of Southern California

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Hans Oh, PhD

CONTACT

(213) 821-1382hansoh@usc.edu

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 25, 2025

First Posted

July 6, 2026

Study Start

July 30, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2027

Last Updated

July 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

US(1)