Helping young people with anxiety and depression through telehealth in primary care
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-11089531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a brief behavioral therapy through telehealth to help young people with anxiety and depression who receive care at community health centers.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,060,735 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131698-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11089531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are youth experiencing anxiety and/or depression who receive care at low-resource primary care community health centers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience anxiety or depression, or who are not youth, would not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
This project explores a brief behavioral therapy called STEP-UP, delivered through telehealth, for young people dealing with anxiety and depression. Many young people, especially those from vulnerable families in low-resource areas, do not receive the mental health support they need. This therapy aims to address common behaviors linked to both anxiety and depression, making it easier for young people to get help. By bringing this support into primary care settings, the project hopes to make mental health care more accessible and effective for those who face significant barriers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide accessible and effective mental health treatment for anxiety and depression in underserved youth, reducing long-term impairment and suicide risk.
How similar studies have gone: This project tests a developed behavioral therapy in a new setting to improve access for underserved youth.
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
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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.