Trial results for a study investigating online interventions to increase help-seeking for Anxiety and/or Depression in Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY) were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-10-21. The study reported a mean usability score of 77.4 for the intervention tools, and one analysis showed a statistically significant result (p=0.04).
Background
Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY) often face unique challenges that can contribute to higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to their cisgender, heterosexual peers. Access to mental health support can be limited by factors such as stigma, lack of affirming providers, and geographical barriers. Online interventions offer a promising avenue to reach this population, providing accessible and potentially anonymous resources to encourage help-seeking behaviors for mental health concerns.
Trial design
This completed study, identified as Phase NA, enrolled 81 participants. The trial focused on Anxiety, Depression, Adolescent Behavior, and Sexual and Gender Minorities. The investigators utilized four technology-based tools, including combinations of YouTube videos, links to online resources, TikTok videos, and other media. Participants were divided into 16 groups and interacted anonymously on Discord. Each group had access to one, two, three, or all four of the tools, with one group having no access for comparison.
Key results
The trial results focused on the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the online interventions:
- Feasibility - IP Use Proportion: The average proportion of intervention use was 0.10 (Standard Deviation: 0.17) for Intervention 1, 0.11 (Standard Deviation: 0.21) for Intervention 2, 0.10 (Standard Deviation: 0.16) for Intervention 3, and 0.08 (Standard Deviation: 0.13) for Intervention 4. The total sample showed an average proportion of 0.11 (Standard Deviation: 0.19).
- Feasibility - IP Use Days: The mean proportion of total days used per participant for the total sample was 0.04 (Standard Deviation: 0.06).
- Usability: For the full sample completing follow-up, the mean usability score was 77.4 (Standard Deviation: 13.6) on a given scale.
- Acceptability of the Intervention Principle: Various aspects of acceptability were reported by 72, 74, 73, 73, and 74 participants from the full sample completing follow-up.
Several analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon (Mann-Whitney) method:
- One analysis yielded a Cohen's D of 0.01 with a p-value of 0.86.
- Another analysis showed a Cohen's D of 0.32 with a p-value of 0.31.
- A third analysis reported a Cohen's D of 0.1 with a p-value of 0.34.
- A fourth analysis indicated a Cohen's D of 0.45 with a p-value of 0.04.
- A fifth analysis resulted in a Cohen's d of 0.41 with a p-value of 0.22.
What this means
The posted results suggest that online help-seeking tools for Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY) with anxiety and depression demonstrate generally favorable usability and acceptability. A mean usability score of 77.4 indicates that participants found the tools relatively easy and satisfactory to use. While the "IP Use Proportion" and "IP Use Days" for feasibility were relatively low, indicating limited engagement with the tools, the high acceptability counts suggest the intervention principle itself was well-received. The statistically significant p-value of 0.04 in one of the analyses, with a Cohen's D of 0.45, suggests a potential moderate effect that warrants further investigation into specific aspects of the intervention's impact on help-seeking behaviors. These findings support the continued exploration of digital mental health resources tailored for SGMY.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT06083987, titled "Sexual and Gender Minority Youth (SGMY) and Online Interventions to Increase Help-seeking for Anxiety and/or Depression", were posted on 2025-10-21 on clinicaltrials.gov.