Community Empowerment for Mental Health

(COPE Trial)

Overseen By Tara L Powell, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Louisiana State University and A&M College

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Not in Together Baton Rouge

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests the COPE intervention, which aims to support mental health in communities recently affected by disasters. The goal is to determine if COPE can improve individual mental health, boost coping skills, increase social support, and strengthen community resilience. Researchers will compare participants to those in regular house meetings to measure the impact. Adults involved with organizations in Together Baton Rouge who are part of or assist with the intervention can join. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative mental health support strategies in disaster-affected communities.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to consult with the trial coordinators for guidance.

What prior data suggests that the COPE intervention is safe for mental health improvement?

A previous study found the COPE program to be well-tolerated by participants, with no significant reports of negative effects. The sessions include group discussions and learning new coping skills, which are generally safe activities. The trial phase is labeled "Not Applicable," indicating that the program focuses on education and support rather than testing a new drug, typically involving fewer safety risks. Overall, COPE aims to help people without causing harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the COPE: Communities Organizing for Power through Empathy intervention because it offers a fresh approach to mental health support by focusing on community empowerment through empathy and group psychoeducation. Unlike traditional individual therapy or medication, COPE involves group sessions that aim to build community support and empathy among participants. This innovative method not only addresses mental health issues but also strengthens community bonds, potentially leading to more sustainable mental health improvements. By conducting sessions in a group setting, COPE fosters shared experiences and mutual understanding, which can enhance personal growth and healing.

What evidence suggests that the COPE intervention could be effective for mental health?

Research has shown that the COPE program, available to participants in this trial, might help reduce stress in communities facing disasters. The program aims to improve mental health through group sessions that foster understanding and support. Studies suggest that participants in COPE feel less stressed and more capable of handling challenges. Additionally, COPE is designed to increase social support and strengthen communities. Early results are promising, indicating that COPE can positively impact mental well-being and community resilience. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jennifer L Scott, PhD, LCSW

Principal Investigator

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 who are staff or members of Together Baton Rouge. It's aimed at those involved in or affected by recent disasters, focusing on improving mental health and resilience.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 or older and involved with Together Baton Rouge in the intervention.

Exclusion Criteria

I am over 18, a member or staff of Together Baton Rouge, and involved with the intervention.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

COPE Intervention

Participants engage in a three-session brief group psychoeducational intervention delivered in groups of 8-15 people. Session 1 is 4 hours, Sessions 2 and 3 are 1.5 hours each, spaced 1 month apart.

3 months

3 sessions (in-person)

House Meeting Control

Participants in the control group attend a 1.5-hour group meeting delivered in groups of 8-15 people, spaced 1 month apart.

3 months

3 meetings (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in mental health, coping, social support, and community resilience at multiple timepoints post-intervention.

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• COPE: Communities Organizing for Power through Empathy

Trial Overview The COPE intervention, which includes three sessions designed to enhance mental well-being, coping skills, social support, and community resilience after a disaster. Its effectiveness will be compared with standard house meetings.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: COPE Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Is a three session brief group psychoeducational intervention. Session 1 is 4 hours, Session 2 and 3 are 1.5 hours. It is delivered in groups of 8-15 people with sessions spaced 1 month apart.

Group II: House Meeting Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Is a 1.5 hour group meeting delivered in groups of 8-15 people spaced 1 month apart.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Louisiana State University and A&M College

Lead Sponsor

Trials

12

Recruited

1,100+

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

300+

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Collaborator

Trials

203

Recruited

40,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Participatory methods in healthcare, particularly the Mental Health Experience Co-design (MH ECO), empower individuals with lived experiences of mental illness by involving them in the redesign and improvement of mental health services, which can lead to better health outcomes and quality of life.

The study identifies eight mechanisms of change that underpin MH ECO, such as recognition, dialogue, and cooperation, which help explain how these participatory approaches can effectively enhance service delivery and patient engagement in mental health care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Participatory Zeitgeist: an explanatory theoretical model of change in an era of coproduction and codesign in healthcare improvement. Palmer, VJ., Weavell, W., Callander, R., et al.[2020]

Improving participation in mental health care requires a focus on empathy, stigma reduction, and valuing the intrinsic aspects of care, which can enhance the integration of service users in health systems.

Incorporating individuals with lived experience as leaders and teachers in mental health services can redefine integrated care from the perspective of service users, ultimately leading to better outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Integrating service user participation in mental health care: what will it take? Lawn, S.[2022]

A qualitative study involving 30 participants revealed that while some community mental health services provided good support, many individuals experienced stigma, ineffective support, and fragmented care.

The study emphasizes the importance of 'Relational Practice,' which focuses on delivering compassionate, individualized, and trauma-informed care, collaboratively planned with service users to effectively address their complex emotional needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Service user perspectives of community mental health services for people with complex emotional needs: a co-produced qualitative interview study. Trevillion, K., Stuart, R., Ocloo, J., et al.[2022]

The Movement for Global Mental Health emphasizes scaling up services and advocating for rights, but there is a critical need to engage more deeply with local communities to understand their unique cultural contexts and resilience strategies.

Community mental health competence, which involves collective action and partnerships, is essential for improving mental health outcomes and ensuring that the voices of vulnerable communities are heard and respected in global mental health initiatives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of communities in advancing the goals of the Movement for Global Mental Health. Campbell, C., Burgess, R.[2016]

A new 28-item scale to measure empowerment in mental health consumers was tested on 271 participants from self-help programs, revealing five key factors: self-efficacy, power, community activism, righteous anger, and optimism.

The study found that higher empowerment levels were associated with better quality of life and income, while being inversely related to the use of traditional mental health services, suggesting that empowered individuals may prefer community-based support over conventional treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A consumer-constructed scale to measure empowerment among users of mental health services. Rogers, ES., Chamberlin, J., Ellison, ML., et al.[2022]

The Portuguese version of the Empowerment Scale (ES) has been validated and shown to be reliable for assessing empowerment in mental health services, with a satisfactory reliability score of 0.79 based on a study of 213 participants.

The ES demonstrated strong construct-related validity, correlating positively with personal recovery (r = 0.71) and inversely with psychiatric symptoms (r = -0.22), indicating its effectiveness in evaluating recovery-oriented interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Properties of the Portuguese version of the empowerment scale with mental health organization users. Jorge-Monteiro, MF., Ornelas, JH.[2020]

Mental health service users and their carers face significant barriers that prevent them from meaningfully engaging in care planning, which is crucial for personalized treatment.

Current research has not shown any measurable benefits or positive outcomes associated with mental health care planning, suggesting that it may not add value to patient care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Engagement of mental health service users and carers in care planning - Is it meaningful and adding value? Scott, R., Aboud, A.[2021]

A community mental health empowerment model was successfully developed and implemented over four years in two white ethnic communities to address barriers to seeking and receiving mental health help.

The model focused on leveraging the strengths of individuals and neighborhoods, enhancing collaboration between lay and professional helpers to improve mental health support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Help seeking and receiving in urban ethnic neighborhoods: strategies for empowerment. Biegel, DE.[2021]

The roundtable series on Citizenship, Social Justice, and Collective Empowerment highlighted the importance of involving individuals with lived experiences of mental health challenges in discussions about community inclusion and empowerment.

The citizenship framework promotes a sense of belonging and community connection, and the outcomes suggest that peer support can effectively enhance this sense of belonging for individuals facing mental health issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Citizenship, Social Justice and Collective Empowerment: Living Outside Mental Illness. Reis, G., Bromage, B., Rowe, M., et al.[2023]

Consumer-run services (CRSs) developed by mental health consumers aim to empower individuals and promote recovery outcomes rather than simply treating mental illness, emphasizing self-determination and agency.

The effectiveness of CRSs is closely tied to their fidelity to the self-help movement; those that maintain participant agency show better outcomes, while those that operate in a hierarchical manner often lead to disappointment and minimal impact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Consumer-run services research and implications for mental health care. Segal, SP., Hayes, SL.[2020]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12134696/

Protocol for a Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial - PMC We hypothesize that individuals who participate in the COPE intervention will report greater reductions in psychological distress symptoms (perceived stress, ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/community-empowerment-for-mental-health-d1359

Community Empowerment for Mental Health (COPE Trial) The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the impact of the Communities Organizing for Power through Empathy (COPE) intervention in adults in ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/391912737_The_Communities_Organizing_for_Power_Through_Empathy_COPE_Community-Based_Intervention_to_Improve_Adult_Mental_Health_During_Disasters_and_Crises_Protocol_for_a_Stepped-Wedge_Cluster_Randomized_Trial

Protocol for a Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial Organizing for Power through Empathy (COPE) [10]. Designed to address the compounded psychological stresses. that communities face during crises ...

4. sswr.confex.com sswr.confex.com/sswr/2025/webprogram/Paper58939.html

COPE in Action: Community-Based Participatory Research ... The intervention–Communities Organizing for Power through Empathy (COPE)–aims to (1) reduce psychological distress and amplify protective ...

5. semanticscholar.org semanticscholar.org/paper/Macro-Level-Interventions-in-Disasters%3A-Theoretical-Zakour/9f0650814d08233b2fcf894a5d77266791c8ee41

Macro-Level Interventions in Disasters: Theoretical Foundations ... The Communities Organizing for Power Through Empathy (COPE) Community-Based Intervention to Improve Adult Mental Health During Disasters and Crises ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12035253/

Community-Engaged Mental Health and Wellbeing Initiatives ... This review aims to examine community-engaged mental health/wellbeing initiatives across Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) and under-resourced settings ...