None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Substantial evidence tells us that people with intellectual disability (ID) urgently need accessible and affordable mental healthcare options. Despite electronic mental health (eMH) making mental health more affordable and accessible, Australians with ID cannot access the eMH programs that their peers now take for granted. A specifically designed eMH tool has the potential to close this gap and place crucial mental health services in the hands of thousands of Australians with borderline-to-mild ID. To our knowledge, our purpose-designed eMH health tool (named Healthy Mind) is the first program of its kind designed by and for people with ID. Healthy Mind is the product of considerable research, clinical and life expertise gathered across many individuals and organisations. Our tool is designed to target the most commonly experienced symptoms of psychological distress in people with ID. It is based on empirically effective strategies that have been demonstrated to improve anxiety and depression in previous trials involving people with ID. This project aims to establish if Healthy Mind can help Australians (16yo and over) with borderline-to-mild ID reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve their day-to-day functioning. A secondary aim of this project is to determine if Healthy Mind can help support the mental health of younger Australians with borderline-to-mild ID as they experience a stressful life transition, such as moving into a more independent living arrangement or commencing employment. We hope that individuals who use Healthy Mind will experience reduced anxiety and depression, and increased daily functioning, when compared with individuals in a control group. We also hope that individuals who use Healthy Mind while undertaking a stressful life transition will report better coping and lower stress in response to their life transition than similar individuals in a control condition. The potential benefits of a program like Healthy Mind are wide-ranging. With improved access to mental healthcare, people with ID and their families will likely require fewer support services, experience fewer carer days-out-of-role and increased levels of community participation, including greater employment. Additionally, the specialised nature of Healthy Mind appears to help users feel empowered and included. Initial user testing has revealed not only the feasibility and acceptability of Healthy Mind, but also excitement and gratitude for an eMH program designed by and for people with ID.
Interventions
Healthy Mind is an Easyread, fully automated, fully online cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) program developed by the Black Dog Institute. Healthy Mind comprises 5 CBT modules: (1) Recognising Feelings helps users label and communicate their emotions; (2) Breathe and Relax teaches uses controlled breathing techniques to regulate sympathetic arousal; (3) Taming Anger helps users identify ager and employ calming strategies; (4) Having More Fun helps users plan enjoyable activities into their weekl
Healthy Mind is an Easyread, fully automated, fully online cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) program developed by the Black Dog Institute. Healthy Mind comprises 5 CBT modules: (1) Recognising Feelings helps users label and communicate their emotions; (2) Breathe and Relax teaches uses controlled breathing techniques to regulate sympathetic arousal; (3) Taming Anger helps users identify ager and employ calming strategies; (4) Having More Fun helps users plan enjoyable activities into their weekly schedule; and (5) Tackling Unhelpful Thinking helps users re-evaluate distressing thoughts. Each module takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and involves watching a video and/or reading a story, and completing a guided practical exercise related to the video or story (e.g. practising controlled breathing). Study participants in the treatment condition will have open access to Healthy Mind for a period of 8 weeks, during which time all modules will be available and can be completed in any order. Participants must use the intervention at least once during their 8-week period but are free to use the intervention as often as they like in any way they choose. They will be able to use the program independently or with a trusted carer on any internet connected device.
Sponsors
Dr Peter Baldwin
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
- Are an Australian resident aged 16 years or over. - Have a previous diagnosis of a borderline-to-mild ID (diagnosis of borderline-to-mild ID will be confirmed by the nominated carer, and an estimate of cognitive functioning will be obtained prior to commencement of the trial using Cambridge Brain Science online assessment platform. - Report mild-to-moderate symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. - Can nominate a “study helper” to assist them throughout trial participation (Each study participant will nominate a trusted carer to provide support throughout all trial stages. A study helper may be a carer, support-worker, family member, friend or other trusted individual. Consent, screening and all other data collection will be completed online with study helper support).
Exclusion criteria
- Report ID severity greater than mild. - Report severe mental health problems (severe symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, severe mood disturbance and/or mania, suicidal ideation, psychotic symptoms). - Are experiencing medical comorbidities or other functional impairments that might impede trial engagement (e.g. impaired vision, hearing, motor skills etc.). - Are not an Australian resident.
Outcome results
None listed