HELP (HEalthy Lifestyles Project) for Youth With Mental Distress (HELP)

August 20, 2026 updated by: Dr. Pat Longmuir, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

HELP (HEalthy Lifestyles Project) for Youth With Mental Distress E-Health Intervention: Patient and Healthcare Impacts

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about how healthcare providers can support youths' mental health. The main question[s] it aims to answer are:

  • Do youth (12 to 17 years of age) who engage in the 6-month HELP e-intervention have a larger improvement in emotional health (measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) than youth who do not receive the intervention?
  • Does engagement in the HELP e-intervention improve lifestyle behaviour (physical activity, sleep or screen time)?
  • Do youth who engage in the 6-month HELP e-intervention utilize fewer mental healthcare resources, during and for 1 year following study participation, than youth who do not receive the intervention? Participants will receive the HELP intervention for 6 months, either immediately or after waiting 6 months from study enrollment. At 0, 3, 6, and 12 months, participants will answer a series of questionnaires to assess their emotional health and lifestyle behaviors. Researchers will compare the emotional health and lifestyle behaviors of youth who received HELP immediately to those who wait for 6 months prior to the intervention to see if their emotional health or lifestyle behaviors differ.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This study will evaluate the efficacy of 6 months of HELP e-intervention access with kinesiologist support in a randomized controlled trial to determine if the changes in emotional health (primary outcome) and lifestyle behaviors (secondary outcomes) differ from changes among youth with delayed intervention access (control condition). Sustainability of the intervention will be assessed for an additional 6 months. Participants will be youth 12-17 years of age who contact youth mental health services. The unique HELP e-resources developed by the research team utilize age-appropriate graphics and interactive formats developed collaboratively with youth/parent/clinician partners. There are 4 sections: 1) Know Your Habits, 2) Physical Activity, 3) Screen Time, 4) Sleep. A kinesiologist will support participants in the intervention. Study assessments will be completed by researchers blind to study group allocation. Researchers will also evaluate the impact of the HELP e-intervention on the use of mental healthcare services, the need for mental health professional support of lifestyle behaviors and the association between self-reported and objectively measured lifestyle behaviors. It is hypothesized that youth engaging in the HELP e-intervention will have improved emotional health and enhanced lifestyle behaviors in comparison to those receiving the delayed (post 6-months) intervention. It is also hypothesized that changes during the intervention will be maintained for an additional 6 months, and that self-reported measures will accurately reflect objective measurements. Finally, it is hypothesized that youth engaging in the HELP e-intervention will require fewer youth mental health supports, and when supported will be less likely to require treatment directed at lifestyle behaviors.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
130

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8L1
        • Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Youth 12-17 years of age seeking, waiting for or receiving support for emotional distress.
  • Able to provide informed consent to study participation.
  • Able to engage in the HELP e-intervention in English (French translation of the e-modules will not be available until intervention efficacy is established).
  • Willing to be randomized to a study group.
  • Willing to complete objective behaviour measures if selected (1 of 3 participants).
  • Willing to complete the study questionnaires.
  • Willing to provide consent for evaluation of mental healthcare system outcomes via their health record.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Identified or suspected eating disorder
  • Youth whose health or family status is deemed to be inappropriate for the study as per their most responsible clinician.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Immediate Intervention
Access to HELP e-intervention from 0 to 6 months with kinesiology support.
Behavioral: Healthy Lifestyles Project e-intervention
Virtual lifestyle behaviour change support.
Other Names:
  • HELP
Active Comparator: Delayed Intervention
Access to HELP e-intervention from 6 to 12 months with kinesiology support.
Behavioral: Healthy Lifestyles Project e-intervention
Virtual lifestyle behaviour change support.
Other Names:
  • HELP

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 months
Youth emotional distress. Minimum score 0. Maximum Score 50. Higher score is lower emotional health.
6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Habitual Activity Estimation Scale
Time Frame: 6 months
Self-reported daily physical activity. Minutes and proportion of day spent inactive, somewhat inactive, somewhat active and active for weekend and week days.
6 months
Adolescent Sleep Hygiene Scale
Time Frame: 6 months
Self-reported sleep habits. Minimum score 33. Maximum score 198. Higher score is better sleep hygiene.
6 months
Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6 months
Self-reported screen time (hours and minutes).
6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Children's Hospital Academic Medical Organization (CHAMO)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Clare Gray, MD, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 15, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 22, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 22, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 31, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 20, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 24

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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