Weyera Mental Health Pilot Intervention

Emory University

Status: Begins enrollment this month

Conditions: Mental Health Issue

Treatments: Behavioral: Weyera Intervention; Behavioral: Delayed intervention (waitlist control)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06960187

STUDY00008231

R21MD019304-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to pilot a group-level intervention focused on mental health and resilience among Ethiopian and Eritrean youth. The study follows previous work that showed high rates of mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) among Ethiopian and Eritrean youth in Atlanta. The goal is to determine the acceptability, feasibility, and safety of this culturally relevant group-level intervention before a larger trial to improve resilience processes that support mental wellness in a community-based setting.

Full description

The goal of this study is to develop and pilot test a Wellness: Ethiopian/Eritrean Youth Exploring Resilience and Awareness (Weyera), mental health-focused, culturally targeted, group-level intervention. This intervention aims to provide psychoeducation, develop coping skills, and create a space for open discussion.

The study will use a waitlist control design, recruiting participants randomly assigned to either the intervention or control (delayed intervention) group.

Participants will attend 8 weekly sessions (~2 hours each) that include psychoeducation, interactive activities, and coping skills practice. Sessions will be facilitated by trained community health workers. Participants will also complete baseline and follow-up surveys at 2-, 4-, and 6-month post-enrollment, as well as post-session evaluation surveys after each session.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 29 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 to 29 years old
• Ethiopian and/or Eritrean ethnicity by self-report
• Able to read and understand English
• Resident of Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area
• Available and interested to participate in 2-hour weekly sessions over 8 weeks and complete relevant surveys

Exclusion criteria

• Age < 18 or > 29 years old
• Unwilling or unable to provide informed consent.
• Not a resident of the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention

Other group

Description:

Participants enrolled in the intervention group will begin the intervention 1-2 weeks after group assignment and will complete a baseline survey before the start of the intervention, satisfaction surveys at the end of each session, and an endline survey. At the end of the intervention, a subset of participants will also take part in in-depth interviews

Treatment:

Behavioral: Weyera Intervention

Wait-List Control Group

Other group

Description:

A wait-list control design ensures the ethical treatment of participants by guaranteeing that all individuals will have access to the potentially impactful intervention after a brief waiting period. Participants in the wait-list control group will begin the full intervention starting at month 4 following their enrollment.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Delayed intervention (waitlist control)