Safe Haven app to reduce depression and anxiety in undergraduates
The Effectiveness of the Safe Haven APP on Mental Health Among Undergraduates: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This trial will see if the Safe Haven smartphone app helps undergraduates with depression or anxiety feel less distressed and improve their mental health knowledge.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 68 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 24 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | National Cheng-Kung University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Tainan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07340983 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a two-arm randomized controlled trial at a national university in southern Taiwan that will enroll 68 eligible undergraduates and randomize them 1:1 to Safe Haven plus usual campus care or to a waitlist control receiving usual campus care only. The Safe Haven intervention is a Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention (JITAI) app that combines mood and sleep tracking, risk stratification, and tailored support delivered over a 3-month period. Outcomes include changes in general psychological distress, depression, anxiety, stress, and mental health literacy measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention (3 months), and at a 3-month follow-up. Researchers will compare symptom and literacy changes over time between the two groups to determine whether the app provides additional benefit beyond standard campus services.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Enrolled undergraduates aged 18–24 who can read Chinese, own a personal smartphone or tablet, and are willing to install the app and complete follow-up assessments are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Students who are on leave or not officially enrolled during the study, already participating in another mental health program or using similar apps, or who lack a compatible device or Chinese literacy are not eligible and would not benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could provide an easy-to-access, scalable tool to reduce distress and improve mental health literacy among undergraduates.
How similar studies have performed: Prior app-based mental health interventions for students have shown modest improvements in symptoms and knowledge, and JITAI approaches are promising though large-scale efficacy data remain limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * registered undergraduates aged 18-24 years * own a personal smart device (mobile phone or tablet) * ability to read Chinese * willingness to install the study app and complete the follow-up assessments. Exclusion Criteria: * are on leave of absence or not officially enrolled during the study period * are participating in another mental health intervention program or using similar mental health apps.
Where this trial is running
Tainan
- National Cheng Kung University — Tainan, Taiwan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ching-Lan Lin — National Cheng Kung University
- Study coordinator: Ching-Lan Lin
- Email: chinglan@mail.ncku.edu.tw
- Phone: +886-6-2757575
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.