Investigating what people think of a new online peer support platform with educational self-help resources to help improve mental health.
In England, there is limited support for people living with long-term physical health conditions (LTC) to help them manage their mental well-being. Researchers from King’s College London, software developers, and a group of people living with LTCs, have co-designed a new intervention to help people manage low mood and depressive symptoms. The intervention is an online peer support platform with educational self-help resources. The intervention is exclusively for people with LTCs, regardless of their specific condition, meaning that all diagnoses are welcome, from diabetes to COPD, or MND to endometriosis.
The research aims to investigate what people think about the new intervention, including what they like and dislike. This study will also compare the new intervention to the generic NHS “Mental Health” webpage resources.
Taking Part
What does taking part involve?
Participants will complete two eligibility screenings, separated by a wait period while other people are recruited for the peer community. Participants can track recruitment progress and receive updates from the research team during this period. They will then be randomly assigned to either have three months of access to the online peer support platform or to be part of the control group accessing the NHS webpages.
Participants who are allocated to the new intervention (CommonGround) will be given access to the online peer support platform where they can create their own anonymous profile, ask questions, share experiences, react to and comment on other people’s posts, and access self-help resources about living with an LTC. They can choose how much they use CommonGround during the three-month trial. They may receive emails with updates about what is happening on the platform. Data will be collected about how they are using the platform, for example how often they log in and how many posts they make. Participants will be anonymous to other participants on the platform.
Participants who are allocated to the control group (NHS “Mental Health” webpages) will be invited to access the NHS “Mental Health” webpages. They can choose how they engage with these resources, which one(s) they decide to access, and how frequently they access them.
All participants will complete questionnaires at the beginning, middle, and end of the three months. They may also be invited to a one-to-one virtual interview to explore their opinions and experiences further. In total, participation in the study will take approximately 7-9 months, dependent on how quickly people sign-up to the research and whether they participate in an interview.
As a token of appreciation, participants will be offered shopping vouchers at the following stages:
- After they have completed the eligibility screenings and the questionnaires at the beginning of the trial (£10).
- After completing the final questionnaire (end of trial; £10)
- After completing the interview (if they are invited; £20).
Who can take part?
• Anyone living with one or more long-term physical health conditions, such as MND
• Aged 18+, with access to the internet
• Able to consent to taking part in the study
• Have a good ability to read and communicate in English
Please note that anyone who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and/or psychosis, and/or a form of dementia is not able to participate in this study.
How can I take part?
To register interest in taking part or for more information please use the button below to see the study website.
If you have any further questions please contact the research team on [email protected].
Study Locations
Uk-wide (remote).
Funding
This project is being funded by King’s Health Partners and Guy’s and St Thomas Charity from the Multiple Long Term Conditions Challenge Fund. This project is sponsored and organised by King’s College London.