CONNECT program: group telehealth to reduce loneliness and improve mental health in adults 55+
Official title: The CONNECT Program: Engaging Community Organizations in the Implementation and Evaluation of a Group Telehealth Mental Health Program for Older Canadians
Run by University of Manitoba · NCT07107906 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether the group-based CONNECT telehealth program can reduce loneliness, social isolation, anxiety, and depression in adults 55 and older compared with routine community programming.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 55 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 128 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Manitoba Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Winnipeg, Manitoba) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 8, 2025 |
| Main results expected | September 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 19, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07107906 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 55 or older who speak and read English, can manage hearing or vision changes well enough for group conversations, and who report loneliness, social isolation, or symptoms of anxiety or depression.
✕Probably not a fit
People who cannot communicate in English are excluded and therefore will not receive benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The CONNECT program delivers group-based telehealth sessions that combine social engagement and psychological support aimed at improving psychological flexibility and reducing loneliness. Adults 55 and older who report loneliness, social isolation, or symptoms of anxiety or depression and who can communicate in English and participate in group conversations are enrolled. Participants are assigned to join the CONNECT telehealth groups or to continue with routine community-based programming, with outcomes measured using standard scales for loneliness, social isolation, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The trial is led by the University of Manitoba and implemented with local community partners in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, CONNECT could provide an accessible group telehealth option that reduces loneliness and mental health symptoms and strengthens social connectedness for older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Prior group-based psychosocial and telehealth interventions have shown promise for reducing loneliness and improving mood in older adults, though large-scale community implementation remains limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 55 years or older * Able to speak, read, and understand English * Can manage hearing or vision changes well enough to participate in group conversations * Self-reported experiences of loneliness, social isolation, and/or mental health challenges (e.g., anxiety or depressive symptoms) Exclusion Criteria: * Cannot communicate in English (verbal or written)
Where it's running
-
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Kristin AA Reynolds, PhD
- Email: Kristin.Reynolds@umanitoba.ca
- Phone: 204-474-8260
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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.