Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Advancing Family Wellbeing Through a Massive Open Online Intervention: The LightBEAM Program

The LightBEAM study explores a new online program designed to help Canadian parents dealing with depression, anxiety, anger, or stress, particularly those with children aged 18 months to nearly 9 years old. This program, delivered through an app, offers weekly videos, group chats, and skill-building exercises. The main goal is to find out if LightBEAM is easy to use, helpful, and effective in improving parents' mental health and strengthening family relationships. Researchers also want to understand why it works for some and not others. This study aims to provide accessible mental health support, especially for families in remote areas or those waiting for other services, potentially leading to healthier child development.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Manitoba

Enrolment target

202

Start

14 Feb 2025

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2027

Depression, Anxiety Anger Parenting Stress Psychological Parent Child Relationship Child Development

What is this study about?

This study is looking at a new online program called LightBEAM, which is designed to help parents with their mental health and wellbeing. We know that when parents face challenges like stress, anxiety, or depression, it can sometimes affect their children's development and family life. Many families find it hard to get mental health support due to long waits or limited services, especially in Canada.

LightBEAM is an app-based program offering support and resources. It includes weekly videos led by experts on parenting and mental health, online group discussions, tools to track your progress, and exercises to help you practice new skills. The idea is to make mental health support much easier to access for a wider range of families, particularly those who live in areas where services are scarce or who are stuck on waiting lists for help.

The main goals of this study are to see how practical and helpful LightBEAM is. This includes checking if people sign up and stick with the program, if they like using it, and if it genuinely improves their mental health and family life compared to not having the program. We also want to understand who benefits most from LightBEAM and why, so we can make it even better in the future. Ultimately, the study hopes to show that LightBEAM can be a valuable tool for supporting parents, leading to happier and healthier families.

Key takeaways

LightBEAM is an online program aiming to support parents' mental health.
It focuses on helping with stress, anxiety, anger, and parenting skills.
The study assesses if LightBEAM is effective and easy to use for Canadian families.
Participation involves 12 weeks with the app and assessments over several months.
It offers potential benefits for parents and children and could improve mental health access.

Who may be eligible?

To join the LightBEAM study, you need to be a main caregiver (any gender) of a child between 18 months and about 9 years old. You must live in Canada, be at least 18 years old, and be able to understand, read, and speak English well. Importantly, you should also be experiencing at least mild feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, or parenting stress.

You'll also need access to an electronic device, like a smartphone or tablet, and an internet connection to use the LightBEAM app. If you're currently under 18, have a child outside the specified age range, or have participated in earlier versions of this program (called BEAM), then you wouldn't be able to join this particular study. Your co-parent is welcome to participate alongside you, but they won't be counted in the main group of 300 participants.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a main caregiver of a child aged 18 months to nearly 9 years?
Are you at least 18 years old and live in Canada?
Can you understand, read, and speak English?
Do you experience at least mild feelings of depression, anxiety, anger, or parenting stress?
Do you have access to an electronic device and internet?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in the LightBEAM study, you will use the LightBEAM app for 12 weeks. During this time, you'll engage with weekly modules that include videos about parenting and mental health, track your progress, participate in a group forum with other parents, and do exercises to help you use the skills you learn. Your involvement will start with some assessments to understand your and your child's symptoms before you begin the program. You'll then complete the 12-week program, and after it finishes, you'll have another set of assessments. Finally, there will be one more follow-up assessment roughly six months later to see how you're doing long-term. There are no medications involved in this study.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several potential benefits, such as gaining new tools and strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and anger, improve your parenting skills, and strengthen your relationship with your child. You'll also be contributing to research that could help many other Canadian families access vital mental health support. However, as with any online program, there's a small chance you might find some of the content emotionally challenging, or you might find the time commitment for weekly modules and assessments to be significant. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your current or future medical care.

Locations (1)

University of Manitoba
Verified postcode
Winnipeg, Canada

Common questions

What is LightBEAM?

LightBEAM is an app-based online program designed to help parents manage stress, anxiety, anger, and improve their parenting skills.

Who can join the study?

You can join if you're a primary caregiver over 18, live in Canada, have a child aged 18 months to ~9 years, use English, and have mild emotional distress.

What will I have to do in the study?

You'll use the LightBEAM app for 12 weeks, watching weekly videos, tracking progress, joining a forum, and doing exercises. You'll also complete three sets of assessments over about 7-8 months.

Will this program replace my current mental health treatment?

The study aims to provide support and resources, but it's not a direct replacement for personalised mental health care. You should discuss your specific needs with your doctor.

Is my information kept private?

Yes, researchers have strict rules to protect your personal information and privacy throughout the study.