Popis: |
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic involved a prolonged period of collective trauma and stress during which substantial increases in mental health concerns, like depression and anxiety, were observed across the population. OBJECTIVE In this context, CHAMindWell was developed to improve resilience and reduce symptom severity among a public hospital system’s patient population. The program employed repeated, online symptom screenings using Computer Adaptive Testing for Mental Health (CAT-MH) surveys, and participants were assigned to a tier based on symptom severity (Tier 1 = asymptomatic to mild; Tier 2 = moderate; Tier 3 = severe). Participants were provided tier-based mindfulness resources, treatment recommendations, and referrals. This program evaluation was conducted to explore engagement with and outcomes from CHAMindWell. METHODS Demographic data and CAT-MH severity scores were retrospectively examined from n=903 participants who enrolled between 12/13/2020 and 3/17/2022 and n=196 who completed at least one follow-up survey 3 to 6 months after enrollment. Logistic regressions were conducted to evaluate associations between demographic variables and survey completion. A McNemar’s chi-square test and paired-samples t-tests were performed to evaluate changes in the numbers of participants in Tier 1 versus Tier 2 or 3 and changes in depression, anxiety, and PTSD severity between baseline and follow-up. RESULTS White/Caucasian racial identity was associated with completing baseline CAT-MH, p=.012, OR=1.80 95% CI[1.14, 2.84]. Participants’ odds of having symptom severities below the clinical threshold (i.e., Tier 1) were significantly greater at follow-up, p=.002, OR=2.60, and significant reductions were observed across symptom domains over time. CONCLUSIONS CHAMindWell is associated with reduced severity of mental health symptoms. Future work should aim to address program engagement inequities and attrition, and compare the impacts of CHAMindWell to a control condition to better characterize its effects. |