Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

CAMH PARTNERs Integrated Care Study

This research is testing a new way to help people who are struggling with depression, anxiety, or problems with alcohol. It involves a service that uses telephone support and a special helper called a Mental Health Technician to work with your family doctor. The aim is to make mental health care easier to access and more effective in regular doctor's surgeries. We want to find out if this new approach helps people start the right treatment, reduces their symptoms, and generally improves their day-to-day life. The study compares this new approach with the usual care you might get from your family doctor.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Enrolment target

635

Start

01 Nov 2014

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2026

Depression Anxiety Alcohol Drinking

What is this study about?

This study is looking into a new way to support people who are dealing with conditions like depression, anxiety, or issues with alcohol. Often, people get help for these sorts of problems from their family doctor. This study wants to see if we can make that support even better.

The main idea is to introduce a new team and system to work alongside your family doctor. This new team includes a 'Mental Health Technician' who can offer support, information, and check-ins over the phone. They also use special computer tools. The whole point is to help your family doctor give you the best possible mental health care. We're comparing this new team approach with the usual care your doctor provides, to see which works best.

We really want to know if this new way of providing care helps people feel better, reduces their symptoms, and generally improves their quality of life. By finding out what works well, we can hopefully improve mental health support for many more people in the future.

Key takeaways

Tests a new phone-based mental health support system.
Aims to improve care for depression, anxiety, and alcohol issues.
Compares enhanced support with usual doctor's care.
Involves phone calls for checks-ups and support.
Lasts for 12 months, with regular symptom assessments.
Could help improve mental health services for more people.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be at least 18 years old and currently receiving care from a family doctor who is part of this study. You might be asked to join if your doctor thinks you have signs of depression, anxiety, or an alcohol-related issue, or if you ask about joining yourself.

You also need to have access to a telephone and be able to speak and understand English well enough to talk on the phone. We need your clear permission to take part.

However, some people won't be able to join. This includes if you have certain mental health conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, or if your doctor thinks you're very unwell or at high risk of harming yourself. Also, if you rely on drugs other than alcohol, or have significant memory problems, you won't be able to take part.

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 18 years old or older?
Do you get care from a family doctor involved in this study?
Are you concerned about depression, anxiety, or alcohol use?
Do you have access to a phone and can speak English well on it?
Are you willing to discuss your health over the phone?
Have you been diagnosed with certain serious mental health conditions (like bipolar disorder or psychosis)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join, you'll be randomly put into one of two groups. Neither you nor the researchers will choose which group you're in – it's like flipping a coin.

In one group, you'll receive the usual care from your family doctor, but we'll also check in with you by phone at the start, and then again after 4, 8, and 12 months, to see how you're doing.

In the second group, you'll also get the usual care from your family doctor. But in addition, you'll have regular phone calls from a Mental Health Technician. They will give you information, monitor your progress, and offer support. These calls will happen throughout the study, and your family doctor will also get recommendations and updates from this team.

Both groups will have their symptoms, how well they're functioning, and their quality of life checked by phone at the start, and then at 4, 8, and 12 months. Your family doctor will receive summaries of these check-ups. At the 12-month mark, we'll also ask about your satisfaction with the care you received. The total study duration for each participant is about 12 months.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may offer some benefits, such as potentially receiving enhanced support for your mental health concerns, which could lead to an improvement in your symptoms and overall quality of life. For those in the intervention group, receiving regular phone support and guidance might be helpful. For others, simply having your progress monitored and shared with your doctor could also be beneficial. As with any study, there's always a possibility that the new approach might not be more effective than usual care. There are very few direct risks; however, participating in health assessments might sometimes bring up uncomfortable feelings. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada

Common questions

What is a Mental Health Technician?

This is a new role for a trained person who works with your doctor and offers phone support, information, and checks on your symptoms to help with your mental health.

Will my family doctor know I'm in the study?

Yes, your family doctor will be involved and will receive summaries of your progress and results from the study.

Do I have to visit a clinic for this study?

No, all assessments and support from the Mental Health Technician will be done over the phone, so you won't need to visit a clinic specifically for the study.

What if I feel worse during the study?

Your care is still managed by your family doctor. If you feel worse, you should contact them as you normally would. The study assessments are not emergency care.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, all your personal and medical information collected during the study will be kept confidential and used only for research purposes, respecting your privacy.