Resilience Training for Mental Health

Overseen By Daphne J Holt, MD, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Disqualifiers: Psychiatric illness, Substance use, Psychotherapy, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if teaching resilience skills in a virtual reality setting is feasible and well-received. The focus is on enhancing mental health through activities such as mindfulness and self-compassion. It is ideal for college students and healthcare workers seeking to improve their mental well-being. College students or healthcare providers with direct patient contact may find this trial suitable. As an unphased study, it offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative mental health strategies in a cutting-edge virtual environment.

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 Resilience Training is safe?

A previous study demonstrated that resilience training can help people manage high-stress situations and reduce stress-related issues. This training often includes mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy, both recognized for their safety. Another study examined similar resilience training for law enforcement to manage stress without major safety concerns.

No specific negative effects have been reported with resilience training. The study is labeled as "Not Applicable" for its phase, indicating the treatment is likely safe. There are no signs of significant risks or side effects associated with these mental resilience programs. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Resilience Training for mental health because it offers a holistic approach that combines mindfulness, mentalization, and self-compassion in a structured group setting. Unlike traditional treatments such as medication and individual therapy, this training emphasizes building inner strength and coping mechanisms through interactive sessions. By focusing on self-awareness and emotional regulation, Resilience Training has the potential to empower individuals to manage stress and improve mental well-being in a supportive group environment.

What evidence suggests that Resilience Training is effective for mental health?

Research has shown that resilience training, which participants in this trial will receive, can help manage stress and improve mental health. One study found it reduced stress and increased hope and resilience, especially in parents. Another study showed that people felt better mentally and experienced less stress after resilience training. These findings suggest that resilience training can effectively boost mental and emotional well-being by teaching skills like mindfulness and self-compassion. The evidence indicates that resilience training is a promising way to improve mental health. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The ROOM trial is for college students aged 18-30 enrolled in undergraduate programs and healthcare providers over 18 who work with patients. Participants must speak English well and not be in frequent psychotherapy. Those with acute psychiatric symptoms, current suicidality, or serious substance issues cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a college student aged between 18 and 30.

College student participants: Enrolled in an undergraduate program

I am a healthcare provider and I am at least 18 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Inability to provide informed consent

Acute symptoms of a psychiatric illness needing immediate care (such as acute psychotic symptoms, current suicidality, serious active alcohol or substance use, marked deterioration in functioning over the prior month) determined by self-report that necessitates close monitoring or inpatient or partial hospitalization

I am not fluent in English.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Resilience Training

A 6-session group-based intervention to deliver mindfulness, metallization, and self-compassion in virtual reality

6 weeks

6 virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

Assessments at 6 weeks and 6 months post-intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Resilience Training

Trial Overview This study tests the effectiveness of Resilience Training delivered through virtual reality to help individuals cope better with stressors related to psychosis, anxiety, and mood disorders.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Resilience Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A 6 1-hour session group based intervention to deliver mindfulness, metallization, and self-compassion.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,066

Recruited

13,430,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A resilience curriculum for medical trainees, consisting of skill-building workshops, has been developed to help reduce burnout and improve wellness, focusing on skills like goal-setting and managing expectations.

Feedback from interns indicates that the sessions were effective, as most participants reported feeling more comfortable discussing burnout and medical errors, suggesting that resilience training can be a valuable tool in medical education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Curriculum to Foster Resident Resilience. Bird, A., Pincavage, A.[2022]

The U.S. Army Master Resilience Trainer (MRT) course is a 10-day program designed to equip sergeants with resilience training skills, which they can then teach to their soldiers, promoting mental toughness and well-being.

The curriculum is based on evidence from the Penn Resilience Program and positive psychology, ensuring that the training is grounded in scientifically validated methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Master resilience training in the U.S. Army. Reivich, KJ., Seligman, ME., McBride, S.[2011]

In a study involving 127 male cadets, resilience training was associated with a significant reduction in symptoms of depression compared to a control group, which experienced increased chronic stress over time.

The effectiveness of resilience training was influenced by participants' motivation, indicating that those who were more motivated to engage in the training benefited more from it.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Does Training Motivation Influence Resilience Training Outcome on Chronic Stress? Results from an Interventional Study. Niederhauser, M., Zueger, R., Sefidan, S., et al.[2022]

A survey and interviews with 121 recruits from nine NATO nations revealed consistent preferences for resilience training and coping strategies among volunteer soldiers, highlighting the need for tailored mental health resilience training during Basic Training.

Analysis of data from conscripts showed some differences in perceived demands and coping methods compared to volunteers, indicating that training programs should consider these variations to be more effective.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

NATO survey of mental health training in army recruits. Adler, AB., Delahaij, R., Bailey, SM., et al.[2017]

A systematic review of 44 randomized controlled trials involving 6,892 healthcare professionals found that resilience training may lead to higher resilience levels and lower depression and stress, although the evidence is of very low certainty.

Despite showing potential benefits, the studies had high risk of bias and limited generalizability, indicating a need for more rigorous research to confirm these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychological interventions to foster resilience in healthcare professionals. Kunzler, AM., Helmreich, I., Chmitorz, A., et al.[2023]

Mental resilience training (MRT) is a mindfulness-based program developed for the British Army that combines cognitive behavioral techniques to enhance stress regulation and emotional control among military personnel.

Initial trials conducted between 2014 and 2016 at the Infantry Training Centre showed that MRT significantly improved infantry recruits' application of psychological skills in real-life training situations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental resilience training. Precious, D., Lindsay, A.[2019]

A qualitative study involving 18 obstetrics and gynecology residents revealed that resilience in physicians is influenced by their professional identity, connections with others, and the surrounding personal and professional environments.

The findings suggest that enhancing physician resilience requires both individual skill-building programs and broader cultural interventions within the medical community to effectively support doctors in training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physician resilience: a grounded theory study of obstetrics and gynaecology residents. Winkel, AF., Robinson, A., Jones, AA., et al.[2019]

A systematic training program is essential for military personnel to enhance unit-level resilience in preparation for crises, emphasizing the need for structured support.

Mental health professionals in the military, such as nurses and social workers, are crucial in educating personnel about resilience and supporting effective pre-combat training, leveraging their expertise to improve overall mental health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing Resilience in Active Duty Military Personnel. Crabtree-Nelson, S., DeYoung, LP.[2017]

Digital resilience training significantly improves resilience in individuals, with a moderate to large effect size (g = 0.54-1.09) observed in a systematic review of 22 randomized controlled trials involving 2876 participants.

Training delivered online with a flexible schedule was found to be more effective, highlighting the importance of accessibility and adaptability in future resilience training programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Digital training for building resilience: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression. Ang, WHD., Chew, HSJ., Dong, J., et al.[2023]

Resilience Training for US soldiers during Basic Combat Training showed a faster decrease in anxiety symptoms compared to a Military History intervention, indicating its potential effectiveness in improving mental health.

While Resilience Training was positively received and increased confidence in helping others, it did not significantly enhance group cohesion or reduce depression and sleep problems compared to the Military History group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resilience training with soldiers during basic combat training: randomisation by platoon. Adler, AB., Williams, J., McGurk, D., et al.[2015]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10617376/

Effects of resilience training on mental, emotional, and ... The present study suggests that a brief resilience training may be helpful in managing acute high-stress situations and reducing negative stress-related ...

2. bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com bmcpediatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12887-024-04828-6

Effect of resilience training on stress, hope and psychological ... Based on the results, resilience training reduced parental stress and increased hope and resilience in mothers of the test group. Therefore, ...

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1678367/full

The long-term mental health benefits of exercise training ... Long-term exercise interventions demonstrate significant and sustained reductions in anxiety and depression among PE students, with structured ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0732118X24000217

Does mental toughness predict happiness over and above ... Resilience and mental toughness were positively correlated, and they collectively predicted stress, with each construct individually predicting variance in ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8191373/

Impact of a Resiliency Training to Support the Mental Well ... After a 3-hour CRM training, participants reported improved mental well-being and decreased secondary traumatic stress and somatic symptoms.

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2588994X25000685

Frontline mental resilience: Lessons learned from the ... Multiple effective methods to enhance HCW resilience include mindfulness training programs and cognitive-behavioural therapy approaches combined ...

7. samhsa.gov samhsa.gov/technical-assistance/dtac/training/resilience

Shield of Resilience Training Course This 1-hour online training helps law enforcement officers to better understand and address behavioral health stressors unique to law enforcement.

8. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/142

Examining the Relationship Between Resilience, Mental ... This study demonstrated resilience was significantly related to anxiety, depressive symptoms and PSTD symptoms in firefighters but not fitness outcomes.