Text to Connect (T2C): Enhancing Mental Health Self-Efficacy for College Students

University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed "Text to Connect" (T2C), an automated text messaging intervention designed to enhance mental health self-efficacy among college-bound youth with mental health conditions. This innovative digital intervention aims to support young adults during the critical transition to college by providing psychoeducation, self-monitoring of symptoms and stressors, cues to action, and brief educational videos. T2C is tailored to individual needs, making it a personalized and effective tool for improving mental health outcomes and functioning.

Description

"Text to Connect" (T2C) is the first mobile digital intervention targeting mental health self-efficacy among transition-age youth with mental health conditions. The intervention uses automated text messaging to deliver tailored content based on the user's needs. Users initiate the intervention by texting a unique keyword and receive automated prompts over four months. These prompts include general well-being check-ins, psychoeducational videos delivered by peers, and tailored knowledge and skills to enhance self-efficacy. The intervention also includes follow-up texts for users who endorse stressors or low confidence in managing symptoms, encouraging them to seek treatment and providing resources.

Applications

• Mental health support for college students
• Digital interventions for young adults
• Psychoeducational tools for mental health self-efficacy

Advantages

This technology offers a community-driven, cost-effective, and accessible approach to mental health support for college students. By leveraging automated text messaging, T2C provides continuous, personalized support without the need for direct clinician involvement. The intervention is designed to be engaging and easy to use, with tailored content that addresses individual needs. The inclusion of peer-delivered psychoeducational videos enhances relatability and effectiveness, making T2C a valuable tool for improving mental health outcomes during the transition to college.

Invention Readiness

The invention is currently at the software development stage, with promising initial results. The T2C intervention has been tested and refined through user feedback, and further development is ongoing to enhance its features and effectiveness. Presentations and publications are planned to raise awareness and support for this innovative approach to mental health self-efficacy.

IP Status

Copyright