Mental Health Help-SeekingTEAMSNCT00940732
The Elite Athlete Mental Health Strategy Trial
A study testing Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy, Help-seeking list and Feedback in people with Mental Health Help-Seeking, run by Amelia Gulliver at 1 site in Australia.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether positive mental health help-seeking attitudes, and behaviour in elite athletes can be increased through an online intervention. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Health Help-Seeking
- What is being tested?
- Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy, Help-seeking list and Feedback
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 59 participants
- Where
- 1 siteAustralia
- Study dates
- Nov 2009to Oct 2011
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Invited through sports organisation
- Elite athlete
- Able to read English
Who cannot join
- None.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Australia1 site
The Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 0200
About this study
Official title: The Elite Athlete Mental Health Strategy: A Randomised Controlled Trial of an Online Intervention for the Mental Health Help-Seeking of Elite Athletes
The purpose of this study is to determine whether positive mental health help-seeking attitudes, and behaviour in elite athletes can be increased through an online intervention.
Read the detailed description
Mental disorders account for approximately 30% of the non-fatal disease burden in Australia, with the most prevalent disorders of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders experienced by 18% of the population in any single year. These disorders are significantly more common in young adulthood than at any other stage in the lifespan. Despite the availability of effective treatments for many disorders, this high susceptibility in young people is coupled with low rates of seeking professional help. As elite athletes have been found to have less positive attitudes towards seeking help for mental health issues, and they are most often young adults themselves, they may be even less likely than non-athletes to utilise professional services. Although there is a strong relationship between exercise and positive mental health, the prevalence of mental disorders in elite athletes is currently not known. A literature review of the general literature on help seeking and a series of focus groups with elite athletes from the Australian Institute of Sport conducted by the current research group in 2008, suggested that help-seeking by these athletes might be increased by improving their knowledge about mental health, reducing stigma, and providing feedback about the symptoms of common mental disorders.
The current project was designed to test these possibilities utilising an online format. The Elite Athlete Mental health Strategy (TEAMS) project comprises two phases: (1) a large scale survey of the mental health status of elite athletes; (2) a randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of three interventions designed to increase help seeking attitudes and help seeking behaviours related to mental disorders in elite athletes. These three interventions are: destigmatisation and mental health literacy; feedback; and a help-seeking list of resources. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of these three interventions relative to each other and a control condition.
- Conditions
- Mental Health Help-Seeking
- Being tested
- Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy, Help-seeking list, Feedback
- Keywords
- Help-seeking, Mental Health, Athletes
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Destigmatisation and Mental Health LiteracyOther
Written material delivered over 2 weeks via the Internet, including "mythbusters", debunking common myths around anxiety and depression, as well information about a range of celebrities who have identified themselves as having depression or anxiety. Also contains mental health literacy information.
Help-seeking listOther
List of sources for mental health help-seeking delivered over 2 weeks.
FeedbackOther
Written material delivered over 2 weeks via the Internet, including two short self-report measures (Goldberg Anxiety, Goldberg Depression), which will provide feedback to the participant about levels of depression and anxiety.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy |
| Help-seeking list | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Help-seeking list |
| Feedback | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Feedback |
| Control | No intervention | Not described |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Help-seeking attitudes (Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help: Shortened Form, ATSPPH-SF)
Measured: Baseline, post, 3 month, and 6 month follow-up
Secondary outcomes (1)
Help-seeking behaviour, and Help-seeking intentions (General Help-Seeking Questionnaire, GHSQ)
Measured: Baseline, post, 3 month, and 6 month follow-up
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jul 2009 (estimated)
- Study startNov 2009
- Primary completionOct 2011
- Study completionOct 2011
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Mental Health Help-SeekingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 59 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Amelia Gulliver
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Australian Institute of Sport
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Amelia Gulliver, Australian National University
- Investigators
- Amelia Gulliver, BA, BAppPsych, BScPsych (Hons), Principal investigator, The Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National UniversityKathy Griffiths, BSc (Hons), PhD, Study chair, The Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National UniversityHelen Christensen, BA (Hons), MPsych, PhD, Study director, The Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00940732
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2009/373
- Acronym
- TEAMS
- Status last verified
- Jun 2015
- First submitted
- 15 Jul 2009
- Last updated
- 26 Jun 2015
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
Gulliver A, Griffiths KM, Christensen H, Mackinnon A, Calear AL, Parsons A, Bennett K, Batterham PJ, Stanimirovic R. Internet-based interventions to promote mental health help-seeking in elite athletes: an exploratory randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Jun 29;14(3):e69. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1864.
PubMed 22743352
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Jun 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Elite Athlete Mental Health Strategy: A Randomised Controlled Trial of an Online Intervention for the Mental Health Help-Seeking of Elite Athletes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00940732
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TEAMS / 2009/373
- Conditions
- Mental Health Help-Seeking
- Keywords
- Help-seeking, Mental Health, Athletes
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 59 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Amelia GulliverUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Australian Institute of Sport
- Study start
- Nov 2009
- Primary completion
- Oct 2011 (actual)
- Study completion
- Oct 2011 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Jul 2009 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether positive mental health help-seeking attitudes, and behaviour in elite athletes can be increased through an online intervention.
Detailed description
Mental disorders account for approximately 30% of the non-fatal disease burden in Australia, with the most prevalent disorders of depression, anxiety and substance use disorders experienced by 18% of the population in any single year. These disorders are significantly more common in young adulthood than at any other stage in the lifespan. Despite the availability of effective treatments for many disorders, this high susceptibility in young people is coupled with low rates of seeking professional help. As elite athletes have been found to have less positive attitudes towards seeking help for mental health issues, and they are most often young adults themselves, they may be even less likely than non-athletes to utilise professional services. Although there is a strong relationship between exercise and positive mental health, the prevalence of mental disorders in elite athletes is currently not known. A literature review of the general literature on help seeking and a series of focus groups with elite athletes from the Australian Institute of Sport conducted by the current research group in 2008, suggested that help-seeking by these athletes might be increased by improving their knowledge about mental health, reducing stigma, and providing feedback about the symptoms of common mental disorders.
The current project was designed to test these possibilities utilising an online format. The Elite Athlete Mental health Strategy (TEAMS) project comprises two phases: (1) a large scale survey of the mental health status of elite athletes; (2) a randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of three interventions designed to increase help seeking attitudes and help seeking behaviours related to mental disorders in elite athletes. These three interventions are: destigmatisation and mental health literacy; feedback; and a help-seeking list of resources. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of these three interventions relative to each other and a control condition.
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy | Experimental | Other: Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy |
| Help-seeking list | Experimental | Other: Help-seeking list |
| Feedback | Experimental | Other: Feedback |
| Control | No intervention | – |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Invited through sports organisation
- Elite athlete
- Able to read English
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Destigmatisation and Mental Health LiteracyWritten material delivered over 2 weeks via the Internet, including "mythbusters", debunking common myths around anxiety and depression, as well information about a range of celebrities who have identified themselves as having depression or anxiety. Also contains mental health literacy information. | Other | Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy |
| Help-seeking listList of sources for mental health help-seeking delivered over 2 weeks. | Other | Help-seeking list |
| FeedbackWritten material delivered over 2 weeks via the Internet, including two short self-report measures (Goldberg Anxiety, Goldberg Depression), which will provide feedback to the participant about levels of depression and anxiety. | Other | Feedback |
Primary outcome
Help-seeking attitudes (Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help: Shortened Form, ATSPPH-SF)
Time frame: Baseline, post, 3 month, and 6 month follow-up
1 secondary outcome
Help-seeking behaviour, and Help-seeking intentions (General Help-Seeking Questionnaire, GHSQ)
Time frame: Baseline, post, 3 month, and 6 month follow-up
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Jun 2015.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 22743352Gulliver A, Griffiths KM, Christensen H, Mackinnon A, Calear AL, Parsons A, Bennett K, Batterham PJ, Stanimirovic R. Internet-based interventions to promote mental health help-seeking in elite athletes: an exploratory randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2012 Jun 29;14(3):e69. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1864.
Related trials for Mental Health Help-Seeking
Not yet recruiting
Short, Wordless Animated Storytelling to Promote Mental Health Help-Seeking in Young Adults: A U.S. Online Randomized Controlled Trial
Mental Health Help-Seeking
Recruiting
YOUCA App for Parents of Children With Mental Health Issues: A Pilot Study of Usability and Efficacy
Mental Health Help-Seeking, Mental Health Difficulties
Active, not recruiting
Mental Health Help-seeking Promotion in Older Adults
Mental Health Help-seeking
Not yet recruiting
Using a School-Based Depression Literacy Psychoeducation Program With AI Chatbot to Improve Depression Literacy and Help-Seeking Among High School Students
Depressive Symptoms, Mental Health (Depression)
Recruiting
Youth-for-Youth Mental Wellness Care and Action
Mental Well-being, Adolescent Health
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Amelia Gulliver, BA, BAppPsych, BScPsych (Hons) principal investigator
The Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University
Kathy Griffiths, BSc (Hons), PhD study chair
The Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University
Helen Christensen, BA (Hons), MPsych, PhD study director
The Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Destigmatisation and Mental Health Literacy, Help-seeking list and Feedback in people with Mental Health Help-Seeking, run by Amelia Gulliver at 1 site in Australia.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Jun 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Australia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Help-seeking attitudes (Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help: Shortened Form, ATSPPH-SF) (time frame: Baseline, post, 3 month, and 6 month follow-up). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00940732, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Jun 2015; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.