Evaluation of the novel HEalthy Lifestyle Project (HELP) youth mental health e-intervention for lifestyle behaviour change and mental healthcare system impact: A randomized controlled trial protocol.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Youth mental health is in crisis: suicide and self-harm doubled from 2019-2022; youth wait 8-12 months for care; 75% of youth with mental illness do not get care. Sleep, physical activity, and screen time impact mental wellbeing; lifestyle factors addressed with 95% of youth receiving mental health care. The virtual, asynchronous HELP (HEalthy Lifestyle Project) resource could enable step-by-step lifestyle behaviour change with or without professional support. HELP was collaboratively developed with youth experiencing mental distress, parents, and clinicians.

Methods

Youth 12-17 seeking mental health services will be randomized to receive six months of immediate HELP e-resource access or a waitlist control (ClinicalTrials.gov, #NCT06232733). The primary outcome is

SUBMITTER: Patel R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12582452 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature