Adapted Self-Help Plus program to reduce stress and improve well-being in international students
Implementing a Scalable Mental Health Intervention for International Students: A Pilot Study of Digitized Self-Help Plus
This project will test whether an adapted Self-Help Plus (SH+) program can reduce stress, anxiety, and mild depressive symptoms and improve social support and adjustment for international students at a U.S. university.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The New School Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Brooklyn, New York) |
| Trial ID | NCT07188467 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This interventional study delivers an adapted version of the World Health Organization's Self-Help Plus (SH+) as a two-day, in-person workshop featuring animated videos, interactive activities, and group discussion. Participants complete three brief surveys: before the workshop, immediately after, and six weeks later to measure perceived stress, mood, social support, self-efficacy, and cultural adjustment. An optional short interview collects participant feedback on the experience and acceptability of the intervention. The protocol excludes students with severe psychiatric conditions, high self-harm risk, sensory/cognitive barriers to participation, or advanced mental-health training.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are international students enrolled at The New School who are age 18 or older, have at least mild distress (PHQ-4 score ≥3), have sufficient English to engage with materials, and can attend the two-day in-person workshop.
Not a fit: Students with severe psychiatric conditions or frequent thoughts of self-harm, those with sensory or neurocognitive impairments that prevent engagement, and those with advanced mental-health training are unlikely to receive benefit or are excluded from the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could lower perceived stress and mood symptoms and help international students feel more supported and better adjusted on campus.
How similar studies have performed: The WHO-developed SH+ approach has shown benefit for stress and common mental-health problems in diverse populations, but adapting a workshop-format SH+ specifically for international university students is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Enrolled as an international student at The New School * Age 18 years or older * Willing to provide informed consent and complete study assessments * Score of ≥3 on the PHQ-4, indicating at least mild distress * Sufficient English proficiency to comprehend intervention materials Exclusion Criteria: * Severe psychiatric conditions requiring immediate intervention (e.g., active psychosis, severe mood disorders) * Visual, hearing, or neurocognitive impairments that prevent engagement with the intervention * Having an advanced degree in psychology or mental health-related fields (to prevent prior knowledge bias) * Score of 2 or higher on PHQ-4 Item 3 or Item 4 (frequent thoughts of self-harm or severe distress)
Where this trial is running
Brooklyn, New York
- The New School — Brooklyn, New York, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Adam D Brown, PhD — The New School, Center for Global Mental Health
- Study coordinator: Josheka S Chauhan, MA
- Email: chauj265@newschool.edu
- Phone: 347-307-2179
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.