TY  - JOUR
AU  - Schleider, Jessica Lee
AU  - Dobias, Mallory
AU  - Sung, Jenna
AU  - Mumper, Emma
AU  - Mullarkey, Michael C
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2020/6/30
TI  - Acceptability and Utility of an Open-Access, Online Single-Session Intervention Platform for Adolescent Mental Health
JO  - JMIR Ment Health
SP  - e20513
VL  - 7
IS  - 6
KW  - internet intervention
KW  - online interventions
KW  - youth
KW  - mental health
KW  - adolescent
KW  - depression
KW  - single-session intervention
KW  - intervention
AB  - Background: Many youths with mental health needs are unable to access care. Single-session interventions (SSIs) have helped reduce youth psychopathology across multiple trials, promising to broaden access to effective, low-intensity supports. Online, self-guided SSIs may be uniquely scalable, particularly if they are freely available for as-needed use. However, the acceptability of online SSI and their efficacy have remained unexamined outside of controlled trials, and their practical utility is poorly understood. Objective: We evaluated the perceived acceptability and proximal effects of Project YES (Youth Empowerment & Support), an open-access platform offering three online SSIs for youth internalizing distress. Methods: After selecting one of three SSIs to complete, participants (ages 11-17 years) reported pre- and post-SSI levels of clinically relevant outcomes that SSIs may target (eg, hopelessness, self-hate) and perceived SSI acceptability. User-pattern variables, demographics, and depressive symptoms were collected to characterize youths engaging with YES. Results: From September 2019 through March 2020, 694 youths accessed YES, 539 began, and 187 completed a 30-minute, self-guided SSI. SSI completers reported clinically elevated depressive symptoms, on average, and were diverse on several dimensions (53.75% non-white; 78.10% female; 43.23% sexual minorities). Regardless of SSI selection, completers reported pre- to post-program reductions in hopelessness (dav=0.53; dz=0.71), self-hate (dav=0.32; dz=0.61), perceived control (dav=0.60; dz=0.72) and agency (dav=0.39; dz=0.50). Youths rated all SSIs as acceptable (eg, enjoyable, likely to help peers). Conclusions: Results support the perceived acceptability and utility of open-access, free-of-charge SSIs for youth experiencing internalizing distress. Trial Registration: Open Science Framework; osf.io/e52p3 
SN  - 2368-7959
UR  - http://mental.jmir.org/2020/6/e20513/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/20513
UR  - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32602846
DO  - 10.2196/20513
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/20513
ER  -