Mental Health Help-SeekingNCT07906015
Short, Wordless Animated Storytelling to Promote Mental Health Help-Seeking in Young Adults: A U.S. Online Randomized Controlled Trial
A study testing Short wordless animated storytelling film in people with Mental Health Help-Seeking, run by Stanford University.
Trial summary
This online randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether a short, wordless animated storytelling film increases positive attitudes and intentions toward seeking help for mental health concerns among U.S. adults aged 18 to 25. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Health Help-Seeking
- What is being tested?
- Short wordless animated storytelling film
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 2,100 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Jan 2027to Mar 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18 to 25 years Resides in the United States Able to read and understand English Provides electronic informed consent
Who cannot join
- Participation in the pilot phase of this study Prolific approval rate below 95% or fewer than 10 prior submissions
About this study
This online randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether a short, wordless animated storytelling film increases positive attitudes and intentions toward seeking help for mental health concerns among U.S. adults aged 18 to 25. Participants will be recruited via Prolific and randomized in Stanford Qualtrics to view the film or to receive no intervention. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after exposure, and at a brief follow-up one week later. All participants will be offered a downloadable list of free mental health resources; downloads will be recorded.
- Conditions
- Mental Health Help-Seeking
- Being tested
- Short wordless animated storytelling film
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Short wordless animated storytelling filmBehavioural
A brief, wordless animated storytelling film about reaching out for help when struggling with mental health
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Animated Storytelling Film | Experimental | Participants view a brief, wordless animated storytelling film about reaching out for help when struggling with mental health. Assigned intervention: Behavioral: Short wordless animated storytelling film. A brief (about two-minute) wordless animated film with musical soundtrack depicting a character who struggles, delays reaching out, and is helped. Receives: Behavioral: Short wordless animated storytelling film |
| Do-nothing Control | No intervention | Participants complete surveys only and receive no intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS)
Change from baseline in attitudes toward seeking mental health help, as measured by the 9-item Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS). Participant self-reports attitudes toward seeking help from a mental health professional on 9 semantic-differential items rated on a 6-point scale. Total scores are averaged across items, with higher scores indicating more favorable attitudes toward seeking help.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Mental Help-Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS)
Change from baseline in intention to seek mental health help, as measured by the 3-item Mental Help-Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS). Participant self-reports intention to seek help from a mental health professional if they had a mental health concern, on 3 items rated on a 6-point scale. Scores are averaged across items, with higher scores indicating stronger intention.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)
Attitudes toward seeking mental health help
Change from baseline in attitudes toward seeking mental health help at one week, as measured by the 9-item MHSAS. As in the primary outcome measure, assessed at the one-week follow-up survey.
Measured: Baseline, 7 to 10 days post-intervention exposure
Downloading Mental Health Resource Sheet
Proportion of participants who download the offered mental health resource list. Participants are offered a one-page list of free mental health resources at the end of the survey
Measured: Immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)
Help-seeking action
Proportion of participants reporting any help-seeking action in the past 7 days. Participant self-reports whether, in the past 7 days, they talked to a friend or family member about how they were feeling, looked up information about mental health or support, used an online screening or self-help tool, contacted a professional, contacted a helpline or text line, or made an appointment (any yes/no).
Measured: 7 to 10 days post-intervention exposure
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Oct 2026
- Study startJan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completionFeb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionMar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mental Health Help-SeekingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Stanford UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 2,100 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Brown University, Heidelberg University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Maya Adam, Stanford University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07906015
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 89833
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Short, Wordless Animated Storytelling to Promote Mental Health Help-Seeking in Young Adults: A U.S. Online Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07906015
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 89833
- Conditions
- Mental Health Help-Seeking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 2,100 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Brown University, Heidelberg University
- Study start
- Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Oct 2026 (actual)
- 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.
This online randomized controlled trial will evaluate whether a short, wordless animated storytelling film increases positive attitudes and intentions toward seeking help for mental health concerns among U.S. adults aged 18 to 25. Participants will be recruited via Prolific and randomized in Stanford Qualtrics to view the film or to receive no intervention. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, immediately after exposure, and at a brief follow-up one week later. All participants will be offered a downloadable list of free mental health resources; downloads will be recorded.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Animated Storytelling Film | Experimental | Behavioral: Short wordless animated storytelling filmParticipants view a brief, wordless animated storytelling film about reaching out for help when struggling with mental health. Assigned intervention: Behavioral: Short wordless animated storytelling film. A brief (about two-minute) wordless animated film with musical soundtrack depicting a character who struggles, delays reaching out, and is helped. |
| Do-nothing Control | No intervention | –Participants complete surveys only and receive no intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Aged 18 to 25 years Resides in the United States Able to read and understand English Provides electronic informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Participation in the pilot phase of this study Prolific approval rate below 95% or fewer than 10 prior submissions
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Short wordless animated storytelling filmA brief, wordless animated storytelling film about reaching out for help when struggling with mental health | Behavioural | Animated Storytelling Film |
Primary outcome
Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS)
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)
Change from baseline in attitudes toward seeking mental health help, as measured by the 9-item Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS). Participant self-reports attitudes toward seeking help from a mental health professional on 9 semantic-differential items rated on a 6-point scale. Total scores are averaged across items, with higher scores indicating more favorable attitudes toward seeking help.
4 secondary outcomes
Mental Help-Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS)
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)
Attitudes toward seeking mental health help
Time frame: Baseline, 7 to 10 days post-intervention exposure
Downloading Mental Health Resource Sheet
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)
Help-seeking action
Time frame: 7 to 10 days post-intervention exposure
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Oct 2026.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Short wordless animated storytelling film in people with Mental Health Help-Seeking, run by Stanford University.
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 1 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Mental Help-Seeking Attitudes Scale (MHSAS) (time frame: Baseline, immediately post-intervention exposure (up to 24 hours)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 30 Oct 2026.