Dedham

This research aims to evaluate a brief, digital single-session intervention called Practicing the Opposite (PTO) for youths aged 9 to 17 who are on waitlists for outpatient mental health treatment. The study focuses on addressing the urgent need for youth mental health care in the United States, particularly for conditions like anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, and stress. The intervention is designed to help young people cope during long wait times for therapy and potentially improve their engagement and outcomes once treatment begins. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the PTO digital program, which lasts 30 to 45 minutes and uses stories, interactive activities, and graphics to teach practicing positive opposite behaviors, or to usual clinical care provided by participating clinics. The study compares this new approach against standard waitlist procedures to test its effectiveness in improving mental health before formal therapy starts. Throughout the study, researchers will track changes in mental health symptoms using surveys and scales completed by youth and their parents at multiple time points: baseline, post-intervention, two weeks after, and monthly follow-ups for up to one year or until clinic treatment ends. These assessments measure anxiety, depression, behavior, and feelings to monitor progress and safety. Participation involves completing the digital intervention and responding to questionnaires, with ongoing observation until the study concludes.