Dataset Information

Development of MHFA-based 2-h educational program for early intervention in depression among office workers: A single-arm pilot trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

In the workplace depression and suicide are serious mental health problems. A lack of knowledge and mental health skills along with the stigma toward mental health problems often results in delays in seeking professional help. Interventions targeting not only persons with mental health problems but also people around the individual are warranted in order to encourage supporting behavior within entire workplace. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of our newly developed educational training program in the management with depression and suicidal risk in the workplace as a single-arm pilot trial.

Methods

The program is a two-hour (2-h) training course for employees based on the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program which aims to increase public mental health literacy. We conducted this program at a company workplace among 91 employees, and ultimately 83 participants completed the self-rated questionnaires. Changes in confidence and practical skills in early intervention of depression and suicide-prevention, and stigma toward mental health problems were evaluated using self-rated questionnaires at 3 time-points; pre-program, immediately post-program, and 1 month after the program.

Results

Confidence and practical skills were significantly improved even 1 month after the program, and stigma reduced just after the program.

Conclusions

Our pilot study suggests that the program has a positive impact on encouraging employees to support their co-workers with mental health problems, and is applicable for busy workers due to its short duration. A single-arm design, evaluation using self-rated questionnaire and short-term follow up period are the main limitations of the present study. Hence, future research is required to validate the effects of this program with control groups, and also to assess long-term effectiveness and objective changes such as absenteeism and sick leave.

Trial registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) R000023258.

SUBMITTER: Kubo H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6285460 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Development of MHFA-based 2-h educational program for early intervention in depression among office workers: A single-arm pilot trial.

Kubo Hiroaki H Urata Hiromi H Katsuki Ryoko R Hirashima Miyako M Ueno Shion S Suzuki Yuriko Y Fujisawa Daisuke D Hashimoto Naoki N Kobara Keiji K Cho Tetsuji T Mitsui Toshiko T Kanba Shigenobu S Otsuka Kotaro K Kato Takahiro A TA

PloS one 20181207 12

<h4>Objective</h4>In the workplace depression and suicide are serious mental health problems. A lack of knowledge and mental health skills along with the stigma toward mental health problems often results in delays in seeking professional help. Interventions targeting not only persons with mental health problems but also people around the individual are warranted in order to encourage supporting behavior within entire workplace. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of our newly dev ...[more]

PMID: 30532174

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Project description:BackgroundSexual and gender minority young adults have a high prevalence of smoking and unique barriers to accessing tobacco treatment.ObjectiveTo address these challenges as well as their preferences for sexual and gender minority-targeted interventions and digital programs, we developed and evaluated the acceptability, preliminary efficacy, and impact on theory-based change processes of an acceptance and commitment therapy-based digital program called Empowered, Queer, Quitting, and Living (EQQUAL).MethodsParticipants (n=22) of a single-arm trial conducted to evaluate the program were young adults, age 18 to 30 years, who self-identified as sexual and gender minority individuals and smoked at least one cigarette per day. All participants received access to the EQQUAL program. Participants completed web-based surveys at baseline and at a follow-up 2 months after enrollment. We verified self-reported smoking abstinence with biochemical testing; missing data were counted as smoking or using tobacco.ResultsFor young adults who logged in at least once (n=18), the mean number of log-ins was 5.5 (SD 3.6), mean number of sessions completed was 3.1 (SD 2.6), and 39% (7/18) completed all 6 sessions. Overall, 93% of participants (14/15) were satisfied with the EQQUAL program, 100% (15/15) found it easy to use, and 100% (15/15) said it helped them be clearer about how to quit. Abstinence from smoking or using tobacco was confirmed with biochemical testing for 23% of participants (5/22). Both quantitative and qualitative results suggested a positive overall response to the avatar guide, with areas for future improvement largely centered on the avatar's appearance and movements.ConclusionsTreatment acceptability of EQQUAL was very promising. The rate of abstinence, which was biochemically confirmed, was 3 times higher than that of the only other digital program to date that has targeted sexual and gender minority young adults and 6 to 13 times higher than those of nontargeted digital smoking interventions among sexual and gender minority young adults. Planned improvements for the next iteration of the program include making the avatar's movements more natural; offering multiple avatar guides with different on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, and gender identity from which to choose; and providing a support forum for users to connect anonymously with peers.

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Dataset Information

Development of MHFA-based 2-h educational program for early intervention in depression among office workers: A single-arm pilot trial.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration

Publications

Development of MHFA-based 2-h educational program for early intervention in depression among office workers: A single-arm pilot trial.

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