Mental Health Education for Latinx Community

Overseen By Principal Investigator

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Stanford University

Disqualifiers: Same household

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 9

Duration: 6 weeks

192 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to strengthen ties between the Latinx community and mental health services. Participants will attend six educational sessions to boost mental health knowledge, reduce stigma, and enhance coping skills. The trial explores two approaches: one focusing on mental health education and skills (Overcoming Life's Hurdles), and the other on community resources. This trial suits individuals who identify as Hispanic or Latinx, speak English or Spanish, and live in specific San Jose zip codes. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to community-focused mental health research and support.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for the Latinx community?

Research shows that life skills programs, such as "Overcoming Life's Hurdles," are generally safe and manageable. Studies of similar programs have found they can reduce depression, anxiety, and stress without causing harm. These programs emphasize teaching mental health skills and coping strategies, focusing more on learning and support than on new medications or medical procedures. Participants in similar programs often report feeling stronger and better equipped to manage stress. No reports of serious side effects have emerged from these educational sessions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it focuses on enhancing mental health education and skill-building specifically for the Latinx community, which is often underserved in mental health care. Unlike traditional therapy or medication options, this trial emphasizes community-specific education, aiming to empower participants with tailored knowledge and resources. By engaging participants through a structured six-week series, the trial hopes to build skills that can be immediately applied in real-life situations, potentially leading to more sustainable mental health improvements. This approach is unique in its emphasis on culturally relevant education and community resources, which could provide more relatable and accessible support compared to conventional treatments.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving mental health literacy and help-seeking in the Latinx community?

This trial will compare two approaches to mental health education for the Latinx community. Participants in one arm will attend a 6-week educational series focused on mental health use, education, and skill-building. Research has shown that mental health education programs can greatly improve understanding of mental health and reduce stigma in the Latinx community. Studies have found that these programs help people better understand mental health issues and encourage them to seek help before a crisis occurs. Experiences with similar programs have demonstrated that participants often develop better coping skills and are more likely to reach out to mental health services.

Participants in the other arm will attend a 6-week series covering topics on community resources. These educational sessions can empower people by providing the knowledge and resources needed to overcome obstacles to accessing mental health care. Overall, evidence supports that these programs can effectively improve mental well-being in the Latinx community. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jennifer A Newberry, MD, JD, MSc

Principal Investigator

Stanford University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Latinx individuals who identify as Hispanic, Latino/a, or Latinx/e, speak English or Spanish, and live in the zip codes 95116, 95122, or 95127. It's not open to multiple people from the same household.

Inclusion Criteria

Has heritage or self-identifies as Hispanic, Latino/a, or Latinx/e

Primary residence is in 95116, 95122, or 95127 zip codes

Exclusion Criteria

Persons from the same household

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants attend a 6-week educational series covering mental health topics

6 weeks

6 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for mental health service use and self-efficacy

6 months

3 follow-up assessments (1 week, 3 months, 6 months)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Overcoming Life's Hurdles

Trial Overview The trial tests 'Overcoming Life's Hurdles,' a program with six educational sessions aimed at improving mental health literacy and connections to services among Latinx communities through Promotores de Salud.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Mental health use, education, and skill-building Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomly assigned to this arm will attend a 6 week educational series that will cover topics around mental health. Data will be collected form participants at baseline (before the start of the first session), 1 week after the last session, and at 3- and 6- months after the sessions (follow ups).

Group II: Resources in the community Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants randomly assigned to this arm will attend a 6 week educational series that will cover topics on resources in the community. Data will be collected form participants at baseline (before the start of the first session), 1 week after the last session, and at 3- and 6- months after the sessions (follow ups).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Stanford University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,527

Recruited

17,430,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The collaboration between academic and community organizations focuses on understanding the attitudes and knowledge regarding mental health care resources within the Latino community.

This initiative aims to create effective interventions and educational outreach models, fostering ongoing partnerships to improve mental health care access and awareness in this community.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reflections on effective nursing partnerships addressing mental health in the Latino community. Garcia, C.[2021]

Latino immigrants often face barriers in accessing mental health care, particularly in areas with rapid migration and limited bilingual services, highlighting the need for immediate solutions.

The development of a lay health advisor training program for Latina immigrants empowers community leaders (promotoras) to share stress-reduction strategies and mental health resources, effectively addressing the mental health needs within their communities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Amigas Latinas Motivando el ALMA (ALMA): Development and Pilot Implementation of a Stress Reduction Promotora Intervention. Green, MA., Perez, G., Ornelas, IJ., et al.[2021]

The ALMA intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms among Latina immigrants, with participants showing lower levels of depression post-intervention and at a two-month follow-up compared to a comparison group.

The online delivery of the ALMA intervention was particularly effective, leading to greater reductions in both depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to the comparison group, highlighting the adaptability and effectiveness of community-based mental health programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Promoting mental health in Latina immigrant women: Results from the Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma intervention trial. Ornelas, IJ., Rao, D., Price, C., et al.[2023]

The study highlights the critical role of family ties in the treatment of schizophrenia among Latinos, emphasizing that strong family support can enhance mental health outcomes.

Stigma surrounding mental illness was identified as a significant barrier to treatment, indicating the need for culturally sensitive approaches to reduce stigma and improve access to mental health services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Towards a cultural adaptation of family psychoeducation: findings from three latino focus groups. Hackethal, V., Spiegel, S., Lewis-Fernández, R., et al.[2021]

A study involving 257 low-income Latino patients showed that both telephone and face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy interventions significantly reduced depression severity compared to usual care, with moderate effect sizes of 0.56 and 0.64, respectively.

The telephone-based intervention had a higher treatment initiation rate (89.7%) compared to face-to-face sessions (78.8%), indicating that telephone care may enhance access to mental health services for Latino patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of the Engagement and Counseling for Latinos (ECLA) intervention in low-income Latinos. Alegría, M., Ludman, E., Kafali, EN., et al.[2021]

The Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma intervention effectively improved mental health outcomes for recent immigrant Latinas, as evidenced by decreased depressive symptoms and stress levels, along with increased coping responses and perceived social support.

Promotoras involved in the program showed enhanced knowledge about their roles and stress management, indicating that community-based interventions can empower individuals and positively impact mental health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA): a pilot promotora intervention focused on stress and coping among immigrant Latinas. Tran, AN., Ornelas, IJ., Perez, G., et al.[2021]

Latinos with serious mental illness have significant healthcare needs, with counseling and therapy services being the most important, as identified by a study involving 122 participants who rated various health needs on a 7-point scale.

There are notable differences in healthcare priorities between U.S.-born Latinos and those born abroad, with over 25% of importance ratings differing significantly, highlighting the need for tailored approaches in integrated care for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prioritizing the healthcare needs of Latinos with mental illness. Corrigan, PW., Torres, A., Lara, JL., et al.[2023]

The DVD version of La CLAve effectively increases psychosis literacy among Spanish-speaking Latinos, as demonstrated in two studies involving 57 medical students and 68 community residents in Mexico, and 93 participants in San Diego, California.

The program shows promise for widespread use in underserved communities, potentially reducing disparities in mental health service access by improving understanding of psychosis among ethnic and linguistic minorities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Toward the early recognition of psychosis among Spanish-speaking adults on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Casas, RN., Gonzales, E., Aldana-Aragón, E., et al.[2021]

Latinx parents often struggle to identify mental health issues in their children and report significant stigma surrounding mental health and seeking help, which can hinder access to care.

Despite the stigma, many Latinx parents are open to or already pursuing mental health services for their children, indicating that stigma may not completely prevent service utilization in some cases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Urban Latinx parents' attitudes towards mental health: Mental health literacy and service use. Dixon De Silva, LE., Ponting, C., Ramos, G., et al.[2023]

A study involving 142 immigrant Latinas at risk for depression demonstrated that a Spanish language fotonovela effectively improved depression knowledge, self-efficacy in recognizing the need for treatment, and reduced stigma associated with seeking help.

The results support the use of Entertainment-Education tools like fotonovelas, delivered through community health workers (promotoras), as a valuable strategy to enhance mental health literacy and encourage treatment-seeking behavior among Latinas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Entertainment-education? A fotonovela? A new strategy to improve depression literacy and help-seeking behaviors in at-risk immigrant Latinas. Hernandez, MY., Organista, KC.[2022]

A 35-minute psychoeducational program called La CLAve effectively increased knowledge about psychosis and beliefs in identifying it among Spanish-speaking community residents (n = 57) and family caregivers (n = 38) of individuals with schizophrenia.

The program not only improved understanding of psychosis symptoms but also encouraged help-seeking behaviors, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool for enhancing mental health literacy in Spanish-speaking populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

La CLAve to increase psychosis literacy of Spanish-speaking community residents and family caregivers. López, SR., Lara, Mdel C., Kopelowicz, A., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06712147

NCT06712147 | MHE3 Clinical Trial - Overcoming Obstacles The goal of this clinical trial is to increase and strengthen connections between Latinx individuals and mental health services. Through this intervention, the ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-community-health-services-2025-c9a31

Mental Health Education for Latinx Community This N/A medical study run by Stanford University is evaluating whether Overcoming Life's Hurdles will have tolerable side effects & efficacy for patients ...

3. apha.confex.com apha.confex.com/apha/2024/meetingapi.cgi/Paper/559061?filename=2024_Abstract559061.html&template=Word

Abstract Conclusion: These findings highlight potential areas of focus for mental health help-seeking within the Latinx community. Specifically, foreign-born Latinx ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9888733/

Barriers in Healthcare for Latinx Patients with Limited ... Latinx patients with LEP face many challenges navigating a healthcare system which was originally structured for English-speaking patients.

5. muse.jhu.edu muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/922334

Evaluation and Lessons Learned in a Pilot Program Community Health Workers Deliver Mental Health Intervention to Uninsured Latinx in Baltimore:Evaluation and Lessons Learned in a Pilot Program. Monica Guerrero ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10325125/

Effectiveness of Life Skills Intervention on Depression, Anxiety ... This review aimed to identify and evaluate the effect of life skills intervention on the reduction of depression, anxiety and stress among children and ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10217808/

A Comprehensive Approach to Enhancing Mental Health ... This opinion article presents evidence-based recommendations to bolster mental health support within educational systems.

8. cjcmh.com cjcmh.com/doi/full/10.7870/cjcmh-2023-019

Evaluation of a Multidisciplinary Resilience Program for ... The study showed a significant increase in self-reported resilience and anxiety symptoms, but no change in depression symptoms. Prevention programs co-designed ...

9. bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-024-06415-w

Unfolding insights about resilience and its coping strategies ... Our research aimed to acquire an in-depth comprehension of how HCPs and MHAs understand, cultivate, and sustain resilience when confronted with workplace ...