Adapted Self-Help Plus program to reduce stress and improve well-being in international students
Official title: Implementing a Scalable Mental Health Intervention for International Students: A Pilot Study of Digitized Self-Help Plus
Run by The New School · NCT07188467 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The New School Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Brooklyn, New York) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 7, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 2025 |
| Study ends | January 2026 |
| Registry record updated | October 9, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07188467 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
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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
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.