Mental health outreach via supportive text messages during the covid-19 pandemic: Improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation after six weeks in subscribers of text4hope compared to a control population

Vincent I.O. Agyapong; Reham Shalaby; Marianne Hrabok; Wesley Vuong; Jasmine M. Noble; April Gusnowski; Kelly Mrklas; Daniel Li; Mark Snaterse; Shireen Surood; Bo Cao; Xin Min Li; Russell Greiner; Andrew J. Greenshaw

doi:10.3390/ijerph18042157

Mental health outreach via supportive text messages during the covid-19 pandemic: Improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation after six weeks in subscribers of text4hope compared to a control population

Vincent I.O. Agyapong, Reham Shalaby, Marianne Hrabok, Wesley Vuong, Jasmine M. Noble, April Gusnowski, Kelly Mrklas, Daniel Li, Mark Snaterse, Shireen Surood, Bo Cao, Xin Min Li, Russell Greiner, Andrew J. Greenshaw

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: In March 2020, Alberta Health Services launched Text4Hope, a free mental health text-message service. The service aimed to alleviate pandemic-associated stress, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and suicidal propensity. The effectiveness of Text4Hope was evaluated by comparing psychiatric parameters between two subscriber groups. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study with two arms: Text4Hope subscribers who received daily texts for six weeks, the intervention group (IG); and new Text4Hope subscribers who were yet to receive messages, the control group (CG). Logistic regression models were used in the analysis. Results: Participants in the IG had lower prevalence rates for moderate/high stress (78.8% vs. 88.0%), likely GAD (31.4% vs. 46.5%), and likely MDD (36.8% vs. 52.1%), respectively, compared to respondents in the CG. After controlling for demographic variables, the IG remained less likely to self-report symptoms of moderate/high stress (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.41–0.75), likely GAD (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.44–0.68), and likely MDD (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.47–0.73). The mean Composite Mental Health score, the sum of mean scores on the PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 was 20.9% higher in the CG. Conclusions: Text4Hope is an effective population-level intervention that helps reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar texting services should be implemented during global crises.

Original language	English
Article number	2157
Pages (from-to)	1-13
Number of pages	13
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	18
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042157
Publication status	Published - Feb 2 2021
Externally published	Yes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: This study was supported by grants from the Mental Health Foundation, the Edmonton and Calgary Community Foundations, The Edmonton Civic Employee’s Foundation, the Calgary Health Trust, the University Hospital Foundation, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

Pollution
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

PubMed: MeSH publication types

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Agyapong, V. I. O., Shalaby, R., Hrabok, M., Vuong, W., Noble, J. M., Gusnowski, A., Mrklas, K., Li, D., Snaterse, M., Surood, S., Cao, B., Li, X. M., Greiner, R., & Greenshaw, A. J. (2021). Mental health outreach via supportive text messages during the covid-19 pandemic: Improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation after six weeks in subscribers of text4hope compared to a control population. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1-13. Article 2157. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042157

Mental health outreach via supportive text messages during the covid-19 pandemic: Improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation after six weeks in subscribers of text4hope compared to a control population. / Agyapong, Vincent I.O.; Shalaby, Reham; Hrabok, Marianne et al.
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2157, 02.02.2021, p. 1-13.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Agyapong, VIO, Shalaby, R, Hrabok, M, Vuong, W, Noble, JM, Gusnowski, A, Mrklas, K, Li, D, Snaterse, M, Surood, S, Cao, B, Li, XM, Greiner, R & Greenshaw, AJ 2021, 'Mental health outreach via supportive text messages during the covid-19 pandemic: Improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation after six weeks in subscribers of text4hope compared to a control population', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 4, 2157, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042157

Agyapong VIO, Shalaby R, Hrabok M, Vuong W, Noble JM, Gusnowski A et al. Mental health outreach via supportive text messages during the covid-19 pandemic: Improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation after six weeks in subscribers of text4hope compared to a control population. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 Feb 2;18(4):1-13. 2157. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042157

Agyapong, Vincent I.O. ; Shalaby, Reham ; Hrabok, Marianne et al. / Mental health outreach via supportive text messages during the covid-19 pandemic : Improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation after six weeks in subscribers of text4hope compared to a control population. In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021 ; Vol. 18, No. 4. pp. 1-13.

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abstract = "Background: In March 2020, Alberta Health Services launched Text4Hope, a free mental health text-message service. The service aimed to alleviate pandemic-associated stress, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and suicidal propensity. The effectiveness of Text4Hope was evaluated by comparing psychiatric parameters between two subscriber groups. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study with two arms: Text4Hope subscribers who received daily texts for six weeks, the intervention group (IG); and new Text4Hope subscribers who were yet to receive messages, the control group (CG). Logistic regression models were used in the analysis. Results: Participants in the IG had lower prevalence rates for moderate/high stress (78.8% vs. 88.0%), likely GAD (31.4% vs. 46.5%), and likely MDD (36.8% vs. 52.1%), respectively, compared to respondents in the CG. After controlling for demographic variables, the IG remained less likely to self-report symptoms of moderate/high stress (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.41–0.75), likely GAD (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.44–0.68), and likely MDD (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.47–0.73). The mean Composite Mental Health score, the sum of mean scores on the PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 was 20.9% higher in the CG. Conclusions: Text4Hope is an effective population-level intervention that helps reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar texting services should be implemented during global crises.",

author = "Agyapong, {Vincent I.O.} and Reham Shalaby and Marianne Hrabok and Wesley Vuong and Noble, {Jasmine M.} and April Gusnowski and Kelly Mrklas and Daniel Li and Mark Snaterse and Shireen Surood and Bo Cao and Li, {Xin Min} and Russell Greiner and Greenshaw, {Andrew J.}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding: This study was supported by grants from the Mental Health Foundation, the Edmonton and Calgary Community Foundations, The Edmonton Civic Employee{\textquoteright}s Foundation, the Calgary Health Trust, the University Hospital Foundation, the Alberta Children{\textquoteright}s Hospital Foundation, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

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AU - Shalaby, Reham

AU - Hrabok, Marianne

AU - Vuong, Wesley

AU - Noble, Jasmine M.

AU - Gusnowski, April

AU - Mrklas, Kelly

AU - Li, Daniel

AU - Snaterse, Mark

AU - Surood, Shireen

AU - Cao, Bo

AU - Li, Xin Min

AU - Greiner, Russell

AU - Greenshaw, Andrew J.

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PY - 2021/2/2

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N2 - Background: In March 2020, Alberta Health Services launched Text4Hope, a free mental health text-message service. The service aimed to alleviate pandemic-associated stress, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and suicidal propensity. The effectiveness of Text4Hope was evaluated by comparing psychiatric parameters between two subscriber groups. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study with two arms: Text4Hope subscribers who received daily texts for six weeks, the intervention group (IG); and new Text4Hope subscribers who were yet to receive messages, the control group (CG). Logistic regression models were used in the analysis. Results: Participants in the IG had lower prevalence rates for moderate/high stress (78.8% vs. 88.0%), likely GAD (31.4% vs. 46.5%), and likely MDD (36.8% vs. 52.1%), respectively, compared to respondents in the CG. After controlling for demographic variables, the IG remained less likely to self-report symptoms of moderate/high stress (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.41–0.75), likely GAD (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.44–0.68), and likely MDD (OR = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.47–0.73). The mean Composite Mental Health score, the sum of mean scores on the PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 was 20.9% higher in the CG. Conclusions: Text4Hope is an effective population-level intervention that helps reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar texting services should be implemented during global crises.

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Mental health outreach via supportive text messages during the covid-19 pandemic: Improved mental health and reduced suicidal ideation after six weeks in subscribers of text4hope compared to a control population

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

PubMed: MeSH publication types

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Cite this