Randomised controlled trial of a brief e-mental health program with Australian university students

The intervention is a brief video-based e-mental health intervention that consists of 12 modules targeting the common mechanisms that underlie mental health problems in university students (e.g. low mood and negative thinking styles, worry/anxiety, procrastination, sleep problems). Each module consists of a brief video (transcript will be available through a link) followed by an exercise to practice the therapeutic technique that is described. An example of an exercise is a thought diary or a guided relaxation exercise. Two modules of the program will be e-mailed to participants during each week of the intervention period (6 weeks). The e-mail will also contain a link to a self-monitoring quiz (e.g. brief anxiety screener or procrastination screener) for participants to track their symptoms (2-5 mins). Self-monitoring quizzes include the PHQ-9, GAD-7, Westside exam anxiety scale, The Sleep Condition Indicator, The Almost Perfect Scale – Revised, The Procrastination Scale. The duration of each module is approximately 5 minutes. The modules are self-administered one-on-one via an e-mailed video, and can be accessed at a participants' location of choice. The videos contained in each module were developed specifically for this study. Adherence to the intervention will be monitored via video analytics and self-report questionnaire.