The Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Mental Wellness Youth Hub

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Mental Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: LevelMind@JC Mental Wellness Youth Hubs

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04840303

UW 19-680

Details and patient eligibility

About

The proposed study is to be carried out with 6000-7000 youths aged 12 - 24 in Hong Kong. The purpose of the study is to investigate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a Hub project for young people: LevelMind@JC. This study is conducted by LevelMind@JC in collaboration with partnering NGOs including the Boys' & Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA), Caritas Hong Kong, Hong Kong Federation of Youth's Group (HKFYG), Hong Kong Playground Association (HKPA), Hong Kong Children and Youth Services (HKCYS) and St James' Settlement (SJS). It is a 1-year quasi experimental controlled study which aims to examine if these hubs can enhance young people's cognitive abilities, personal strengths and overall mental well-being. 1800 participants would be recruited, including 600 Hub users, 600 non-hub users (but receiving services from participating NGOs), and 600 community youth not receiving any youth services. Participants will be assessed at baseline and follow-ups (e.g., 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months); completing questionnaires and answering questions during a 3- hour interview. Hub users with mild to moderate mental distress will receive different psychological treatments according to their needs. For youths who are at risk for mental disorders, diagnostic and medical assessment services will be delivered by psychiatrists or clinical psychologists. Findings will allow us to better understand the effectiveness of this kind of community-based hubs for young people, improve mental wellness training of youth social workers; and in a long run, develop a community-based support model that is sustainable, scalable and replicable.

Enrollment: 1,800 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 12 to 24 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• For hub-user group (experimental group): 12 - 24 year- old hub users who receive community-based mental wellness youth hub services for young people.
• For non-hub user group (active control group): 12 -24 year- old youths who do not receive the community-based mental wellness youth hub services but other generic youth services in the community.
• For non-hub user group (passive control group): 12 -24 year- old community youth who do not receive any youth services in the community.

Exclusion criteria

• 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)
• Youths who have limited comprehension due to epilepsy or mental retardation.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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1,800 participants in 3 patient groups

Hub user group

Experimental group

Description:

This group receives community-based mental wellness youth hub services for young people to enhance personal strengths and overall mental well-being.

Treatment:

Behavioral: LevelMind@JC Mental Wellness Youth Hubs

non-hub user active control group

No Intervention group

Description:

This group does not receive the community-based mental wellness youth hub services but other generic youth services in the community.

non-hub user community control group

No Intervention group

Description:

This group does not receive any youth services in the community.