The Effectiveness of Mental Wellness Youth Hubs in Hong Kong

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Mental Stress

• Registration Number: NCT06868303
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong

Brief Summary

This study sets out to evaluate (i) whether the model in phase two can improve symptoms, quality of life, functioning, and psychological outcomes in young people utilising the hub services (n = 600) compared to those in the community controls (n = 600), (ii) the mechanisms that may drive these improvements, and (iii) whether any particular subgroup(s) of youths (e.g., gender, socio-economic status, migrant status) may benefit more from this service model. The experiment group will include 600 hub users who are not currently using psychiatric medications and do not have a formal diagnosis at the time of enrolling in the hub activity. The control group will also comprise of 600 young people, recruited from a community cohort managed by the research team. The community cohort is accessible via the Youth Epidemiological Study Online platform (YES online), which recruits young people aged 12 to 24 years. Only YES online participants who are not using the service of LevelMind@JC and psychiatric medications will be recruited for this study. The two groups will be matched in age, gender, and baseline distress level measured by the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). There will also be a substudy assessing the effect of the NLPRA eClinic service on symptom-based mental health outcome, comparing a cohort of young people receiving the services (n = 100) to a matched community controls who do not utilise the eClinic services (n = 100). The experiment group will include 100 youths who will be using the eClinic service provided by New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. The control group will also comprise of 100 youths, selected from those participating in the controlled 12-month follow-up study. A consecutive sampling will be used, where a subject who meets the criteria of inclusion will be selected until this required sample size is achieved.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-03-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-07
• Study First Posted: 2025-03-10
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Study Start: 2025-05-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-07
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-13
• Primary Completion: 2028-01-01
• Study Completion: 2028-04-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1300

Inclusion Criteria

• For hub user group: 12- to 24-year-old hub users who receive community-based mental wellness youth hub services for young people.
• For community control group: 12- to 24-year-old community youths who do not receive any youth services in the community.
• For eClinic user group: 12- to 24-year-old eClinic service users.

Exclusion Criteria

• Youths with known diagnosis of psychiatric disorders (including Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorder, Personality Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychotic Disorder)
• Youths who receive psychiatric medication (including antidepressants, antipsychotics and antiepileptic drugs)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Psychological Distress	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	The 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (scores range from 0 to 24 where a higher score indicates a worse outcome)
Change in Well-being	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (scores range from 0 to 25 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)
Change in Quality of Life	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	The 12-item Short-Form 12 Health Survey (scores range from 0 to 100 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Depressive, Anxiety, and Stress Levels	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	The 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (scores range from 0 to 63 where a higher score indicates a worse outcome)
Change in Social and Occupational Functioning	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (scores range from 0 to 100 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)
Change in Sleep Quality	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (scores range from 0 to 21 where a higher score indicates a worse outcome)
Change in Physical Exercise	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (classify physical activity level into three categories: low, moderate, and high)
Change in Self-Esteem Level	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (scores range from 0 to 30 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)
Change in Psychological Resilience	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	The 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (scores range from 0 to 40 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)
Change in Cognitive Function	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	Digit Span Test
Change in Health Economics	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month	Client Service Receipt Inventory

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Community; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong