UC Berkeley Public Health professor Hector Rodriguez in collaboration with Professor Adrian Aguilera of Berkeley Social Welfare and Berkeley Ph.D. graduate Alein Haro-Ramos recently published a new paper about the effectiveness of text messaging interventions for mental health treatment and support. Text messaging interventions are increasingly used to help people manage depression and anxiety. However, little is known about the effectiveness and implementation of these interventions among U.S. Latinxs, who often face barriers to using mental health tools. The StayWell at Home (StayWell) intervention, a 60-day text messaging program based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), was developed to help adults cope with depressive and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. StayWell helped reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in our sample of users, highlighting the potential for assisting diverse populations manage their mental health symptoms and remain connected during extended emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.
See more on Adrian Aguilera's work and lab here.