The Effectiveness of Mental Wellness Youth Hubs in Hong Kong

A Quasi-controlled Study on the Effectiveness of Mental Wellness Youth Hubs in Hong Kong

This study sets out to evaluate (i) whether the model in phase two can improve symptoms, quality of life, functioning, and psychological outcomes in young people utilising the hub services (n = 600) compared to those in the community controls (n = 600), (ii) the mechanisms that may drive these improvements, and (iii) whether any particular subgroup(s) of youths (e.g., gender, socio-economic status, migrant status) may benefit more from this service model. The experiment group will include 600 hub users who are not currently using psychiatric medications and do not have a formal diagnosis at the time of enrolling in the hub activity. The control group will also comprise of 600 young people, recruited from a community cohort managed by the research team. The community cohort is accessible via the Youth Epidemiological Study Online platform (YES online), which recruits young people aged 12 to 24 years. Only YES online participants who are not using the service of LevelMind@JC and psychiatric medications will be recruited for this study. The two groups will be matched in age, gender, and baseline distress level measured by the 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). There will also be a substudy assessing the effect of four service models: NLPRA eClinic, Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) step-up care, general practitioners, and hub casework support service on symptom-based mental health outcome, comparing a cohort of young people receiving these four services respectively. A total of 252 participants will be recrruited. Another substudy will be conducted to investigate the extent to which participation in Tier 1 activities contributes to improvements in targeted outcome areas, assessing young people (n = 675) before and after their participation of Tier 1 activities. A consecutive sampling will be used, where a subject who meets the criteria of inclusion will be selected until this required sample size is achieved.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Mental Stress
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: LevelMind@JC Mental Wellness Youth Hubs; Behavioral: New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association electronic clinic for psychological service; Behavioral: Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness; Other: General Practitioner; Behavioral: Hub Casework

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1300
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD; Phone Number: +852 2255 4486; Email: christy@lmhui.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Yi Nam Suen, PhD; Phone Number: +852 3917 6612; Email: suenyn@hku.hk

Study Locations

• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
    • Recruiting
    • Community

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• For hub user group: 12- to 24-year-old hub users who receive community-based mental wellness youth hub services for young people.
• For community control group: 12- to 24-year-old community youths who do not receive any youth services in the community.
• For eClinic user group: 12- to 24-year-old eClinic service users.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Youths with known diagnosis of psychiatric disorders (including Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Eating Disorder, Personality Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychotic Disorder)
• Youths who receive psychiatric medication (including antidepressants, antipsychotics and antiepileptic drugs)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Hub User Group; This group receives community-based mental wellness youth hub services for young people to enhance personal strengths and overall mental well-being.	Behavioral: LevelMind@JC Mental Wellness Youth Hubs; Mental Wellness Youth Hubs Intervention aims to set up a series of community-based hubs for young people to enhance cognitive abilities, personal strengths and overall mental well-being. Among the experimental group participants (hub users), they are further divided into three tiers according to their psychological distress level. Tier 1 are youths with mild psychological distress level, who will be invited to participate in some innovative and interesting youth projects and activities (e.g., board game and floral artistry). Tier 2 are youths who have moderate level of psychological distress, or at risk for mental illness. Trained social workers will offer them with specific interventions (e.g., CBT, sleep intervention) according to their needs. Tier 3 are youths with severe level of psychological distress who are at risk for mental disorders. Diagnostic and medical assessment services will be delivered by psychiatrist or clinical psychologists.
No Intervention: Non-hub User Community Control Group; This group does not receive any youth services in the community.
Active Comparator: eClinic User Group; This group receives the eClinic service provided by New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.	Behavioral: New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association electronic clinic for psychological service; The eClinic treatment spans eight to fourteen week and is designed for individuals with moderate to severe mental health issues. The service is provided in a hybrid format, incorporating an in-person initial screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7, followed by online self-learning resources and sessions with a therapist. Pre- and post-treatment assessments as well as follow-ups will be used to keep track of service users' progress.
Active Comparator: ICCMW group; This group receives the eClinic service provided by Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) step-up care.	Behavioral: Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness; Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) are the main community-based mental health services in Hong Kong. However, their reach among young people is limited, as their broad target age range primarily focuses on middle-aged individuals. ICCMW offers comprehensive, district-based community support and social rehabilitation services, from early prevention to risk management, for people in mental recovery, those with suspected mental health issues, their families and carers, and residents within the service area, all accessible through a single-entry point.
Active Comparator: GP group; This group receives services provided by general practitioners.	Other: General Practitioner; Services provided by genersl practitioner
Active Comparator: Hub Casework grpup; This group receives services from hub casework support, as well as from NLPRA eClinic, ICCMW, and general practitioners.	Behavioral: New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association electronic clinic for psychological service; The eClinic treatment spans eight to fourteen week and is designed for individuals with moderate to severe mental health issues. The service is provided in a hybrid format, incorporating an in-person initial screening using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7, followed by online self-learning resources and sessions with a therapist. Pre- and post-treatment assessments as well as follow-ups will be used to keep track of service users' progress.; Behavioral: Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness; Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) are the main community-based mental health services in Hong Kong. However, their reach among young people is limited, as their broad target age range primarily focuses on middle-aged individuals. ICCMW offers comprehensive, district-based community support and social rehabilitation services, from early prevention to risk management, for people in mental recovery, those with suspected mental health issues, their families and carers, and residents within the service area, all accessible through a single-entry point.; Other: General Practitioner; Services provided by genersl practitioner; Behavioral: Hub Casework; Services provided during hub casework sessions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Psychological Distress	The 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (scores range from 0 to 24 where a higher score indicates a worse outcome)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Well-being	The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (scores range from 0 to 25 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Quality of Life	The 12-item Short-Form 12 Health Survey (scores range from 0 to 100 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Cognitive Function	Digit Span Test	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Depressive, Anxiety, and Stress Levels	The 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (scores range from 0 to 63 where a higher score indicates a worse outcome)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Social and Occupational Functioning	Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (scores range from 0 to 100 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Sleep Quality	Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (scores range from 0 to 21 where a higher score indicates a worse outcome)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Physical Exercise	The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (classify physical activity level into three categories: low, moderate, and high)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Self-Esteem Level	Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (scores range from 0 to 30 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Psychological Resilience	The 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (scores range from 0 to 40 where a higher score indicates a better outcome)	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month
Change in Health Economics	Client Service Receipt Inventory	Baseline, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
• Collaborators: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust; Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association; Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong; Tung Wah Group of Hospitals; The Salvation Army, Hong Kong and Macau Command; Hong Kong Christian Service; Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited; New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association; The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong; Yan Oi Tong; Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Playground Association (HKPA); Hong Kong Children and Youth Services (HKCYS); Hong Kong Federation of Youth's Group (HKFYG); Chinese Young Men's Christian Association of Hong Kong; Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council; St. James' Settlement
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Christy Lai Ming Hui, PhD, The University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 6, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 7, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 10, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 6, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Youth Mental Health
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Stress, Psychological
• Other Study ID Numbers: 20250221-005-000

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No