Helping young people with anxiety and depression through telehealth in primary care

Behavioral telehealth in low-resource primary care settings for anxiety and depression in youth: A randomized effectiveness-implementation study

NIH-funded research San Diego State University · NIH-11089531

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSan Diego State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Diego, United States)
Project IDNIH-11089531 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are youth experiencing anxiety and/or depression who receive care at low-resource primary care community health centers.

Not a fit: Patients who do not experience anxiety or depression, or who are not youth, would not directly benefit from this specific intervention.

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 performed: This project tests a developed behavioral therapy in a new setting to improve access for underserved youth.

Where this research is happening

San Diego, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Affective DisordersAnxiety Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.