Behavioral telehealth for anxious and depressed youth in low-resource clinics
Official title: Behavioral telehealth in low-resource primary care settings for anxiety and depression in youth: A randomized effectiveness-implementation study
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11362146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short, friendly program uses telehealth to help kids 8 and up in low-resource primary care settings feel less anxious and sad.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $932,559 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131698-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are youths around 8 years or older with anxiety and/or depression treated in low-resource primary care clinics and whose families can participate in telehealth sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Youth without access to stable telehealth connectivity or those with conditions not responsive to behavioral therapy may see little benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a brief, easy-to-deliver behavioral therapy called STEP-UP delivered via telehealth to youths with anxiety and/or depression who receive care at safety-net primary care centers. It combines effectiveness data with real-world implementation to see how well the approach works and how it can be integrated into routine care in diverse communities. The study recruits participants through community clinics serving vulnerable families and follows them to measure improvements in mood and function, while also examining barriers and facilitators to using telehealth in this setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a scalable way to reduce anxiety and depression in underserved youth through accessible telehealth care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior similar programs show promise in delivering transdiagnostic behavioral therapy in varied settings, with ongoing work to optimize implementation.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weersing, V Robin — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Weersing, V Robin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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ETUDES: Improving Care for Suicidal Youth in Pediatric Primary Care
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.