Peer Support Intervention for COVID-19 Related Mental Health Issues

(RIWP+ Trial)

Overseen By Julia Hess, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of New Mexico

Disqualifiers: Severe cognitive problems, severe mental illness

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 24 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate how a peer support program, the Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP), can alleviate mental health issues, financial difficulties, and stress caused by COVID-19 among Latinx immigrants and African refugees. The program pairs participants with university students for mutual learning and support. Participants include those receiving usual services, those in the new support program, and a comparison group of Latinx immigrants. The trial is open to Latinx immigrants and African refugees in New Mexico who haven't recently used certain community services and don't have severe mental health issues. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance support systems for the community.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on mental health support rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for mental health support?

Research has shown that the Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP) is a community-based program designed to support the mental health of immigrants and refugees. The program emphasizes mutual support and learning, which can benefit mental well-being. Although specific studies on the safety of RIWP are lacking, it is important to note that this type of program involves social support and education, not medication or medical procedures. Therefore, it is generally considered safe and manageable. Research on similar social support programs has not reported any harm or negative effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP) intervention because it offers a novel approach to addressing mental health issues stemming from COVID-19, specifically for refugees and immigrants. Unlike traditional treatments, which often focus on individual therapy or medication, this intervention pairs university students with newcomers for mutual learning and community engagement, promoting resource mobilization and social change. This peer support model not only addresses mental health challenges but also empowers participants by building meaningful connections and fostering a sense of belonging, which can be particularly transformative in immigrant communities.

What evidence suggests that the Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project is effective for COVID-19 related mental health issues?

Research has shown that the Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP), which participants in this trial may receive, is promising in reducing mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies indicate that this program, focusing on support and shared learning, effectively addresses psychological distress and stress. The RIWP pairs university students with newcomers to build a supportive community, helping them access resources and encourage social change. Early results suggest that participants experience fewer mental health challenges and improved economic stability. This approach is especially helpful for Latinx and Black communities affected by the pandemic. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Latinx immigrants and African refugees aged 18 or older living in New Mexico. It's not open to those who've used certain community services within the last year or have severe mental illness that prevents group participation.

Exclusion Criteria

For the random sample of 1000 Latinx immigrants, exclusion criteria will be having used the services of one of the four community-based partner organizations serving Latinx immigrants within the past year (at time of study enrollment).

I do not have severe mental health issues that prevent me from joining group activities.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 6-month mental health intervention (RIWP) involving peer advocacy, mutual learning, and social support

24 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for psychological distress, economic precarity, and other outcomes over multiple timepoints

28 months

Extension

Participants in the waitlist control group may participate in the RIWP intervention in Year 3

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP)

Trial Overview The study tests a peer advocacy and social support program called Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project, aiming to improve mental health, financial stability, and reduce stress among Latinx and Black communities affected by COVID-19.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Refugee & Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP) Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

6-month mental health intervention that pairs university students with newcomers to engage in mutual learning, resource mobilization, and social change efforts

Group II: Treatment-as-usual Waitlist Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

participants recruited from community-based organizations receive usual services from community-based organizations and may participate in RIWP intervention in Year 3

Group III: Random Sample of Latinx Immigrants Active Control 1 Intervention

random sample comparison group of Latinx immigrants who are NOT randomly assigned to a treatment condition

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of New Mexico

Lead Sponsor

Trials

393

Recruited

3,526,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Citations

1. pandemicpact.org pandemicpact.org/grants/P40293

Multilevel Community-Based Mental Health Intervention to ... PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of this study is to test a multilevel approach to reduce adverse consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic with disparate impacts on ...

2. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298369

Multilevel community-based mental health intervention to ... The study tests three nested levels of intervention: 1) an efficacious 4-month advocacy and mutual learning model (Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project, ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11020834/

Multilevel community-based mental health intervention ... The study tests three nested levels of intervention: 1) an efficacious 4-month advocacy and mutual learning model (Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project, ...

4. rwp.unm.edu rwp.unm.edu/research/peer-reviewed-publications/index.html

Publications - Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project (RIWP) A table lists academic publications from 2004 to 2024, with columns for the year, title (linked), authors, and publication source.

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05092542

Intervention to Address Disparate Mental Health ... This study tests the effectiveness of a community-based peer advocacy, mutual learning, and social support intervention (Refugee and Immigrant Well-being ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9557269/

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental ... Asylum seekers and refugees are at increased risk of mental illness due to exposure to multiple adversities including trauma, dispossession, poverty and ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S235282732400106X

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigration and ... Immigrants disproportionately experienced higher rates of unemployment, greater losses of income, and more exposure occupational risks.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11701484/

COVID-19 among migrants, refugees, and internally displaced ... 54 (14.6%) studies investigated infection risk, 29 (7.8%) transmission risk, 127 (34.3%) health outcomes of disease (i.e., COVID-19 cases, hospitalisation, ICU ...

9. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1145002/full

Health and well-being of refugees, asylum seekers ... Objectives: The objective of this scoping review was to identify what is known about the impact of COVID-19 on the physical and mental well-being of refugees, ...