The Elite Athlete Mental Health Strategy Trial

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Mental Health Help-Seeking
• Interventions: Other: Help-seeking list; Other: Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy; Other: Feedback

• Registration Number: NCT00940732
• Lead Sponsor: Amelia Gulliver

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether positive mental health help-seeking attitudes, and behaviour in elite athletes can be increased through an online intervention.

Detailed Description

Mental disorders account for approximately 30% of the non-fatal disease burden in Australia, with the most prevalent disorders of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders experienced by 18% of the population in any single year. These disorders are significantly more common in young adulthood than at any other stage in the lifespan. Despite the availability of effective treatments for many disorders, this high susceptibility in young people is coupled with low rates of seeking professional help. As elite athletes have been found to have less positive attitudes towards seeking help for mental health issues, and they are most often young adults themselves, they may be even less likely than non-athletes to utilise professional services. Although there is a strong relationship between exercise and positive mental health, the prevalence of mental disorders in elite athletes is currently not known. A literature review of the general literature on help seeking and a series of focus groups with elite athletes from the Australian Institute of Sport conducted by the current research group in 2008, suggested that help-seeking by these athletes might be increased by improving their knowledge about mental health, reducing stigma, and providing feedback about the symptoms of common mental disorders.

The current project was designed to test these possibilities utilising an online format. The Elite Athlete Mental health Strategy (TEAMS) project comprises two phases: (1) a large scale survey of the mental health status of elite athletes; (2) a randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of three interventions designed to increase help seeking attitudes and help seeking behaviours related to mental disorders in elite athletes. These three interventions are: destigmatisation and mental health literacy; feedback; and a help-seeking list of resources. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of these three interventions relative to each other and a control condition.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-07-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-07-15
• Study First Posted: 2009-07-16
• Study Start: 2009-11
• Primary Completion: 2011-10
• Study Completion: 2011-10
• Status Verified: 2015-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-06-24
• Last Update Posted: 2015-06-26

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 59

Inclusion Criteria

• Invited through sports organisation
• Elite athlete
• Able to read English

Exclusion Criteria

• None.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Help-seeking list	Help-seeking list	-
Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy	Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy	-
Feedback	Feedback	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Help-seeking attitudes (Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help: Shortened Form, ATSPPH-SF)	Baseline, post, 3 month, and 6 month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Help-seeking behaviour, and Help-seeking intentions (General Help-Seeking Questionnaire, GHSQ)	Baseline, post, 3 month, and 6 month follow-up

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University; 🇦🇺 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia