{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T01:41:25Z","timestamp":1791423685931,"version":"4.3.3"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Med Internet Res"],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n University attendance represents a transition period for students that often coincides with the emergence of mental health and substance use challenges. Digital interventions have been identified as a promising means of supporting students due to their scalability, adaptability, and acceptability. Minder is a mental health and substance use mobile app that was codeveloped with university students.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the Minder mobile app in improving mental health and substance use outcomes in a general population of university students.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n A 2-arm, parallel-assignment, single-blinded, 30-day randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate Minder using intention-to-treat analysis. In total, 1489 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=743, 49.9%) or waitlist control (n=746, 50.1%) condition. The Minder app delivers evidence-based content through an automated chatbot and connects participants with services and university social groups. Participants are also assigned a trained peer coach to support them. The primary outcomes were measured through in-app self-assessments and included changes in general anxiety symptomology, depressive symptomology, and alcohol consumption risk measured using the 7-item General Anxiety Disorder scale, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and US Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test\u2013Consumption Scale, respectively, from baseline to 30-day follow-up. Secondary outcomes included measures related to changes in the frequency of substance use (cannabis, alcohol, opioids, and nonmedical stimulants) and mental well-being. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to examine each outcome.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n In total, 79.3% (589\/743) of participants in the intervention group and 83% (619\/746) of participants in the control group completed the follow-up survey. The intervention group had significantly greater average reductions in anxiety symptoms measured using the 7-item General Anxiety Disorder scale (adjusted group mean difference=\u22120.85, 95% CI \u22121.27 to \u22120.42; P<.001; Cohen d=\u22120.17) and depressive symptoms measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (adjusted group mean difference=\u22120.63, 95% CI \u22121.08 to \u22120.17; P=.007; Cohen d=\u22120.11). A reduction in the US Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test\u2013Consumption Scale score among intervention participants was also observed, but it was not significant (P=.23). Statistically significant differences in favor of the intervention group were found for mental well-being and reductions in the frequency of cannabis use and typical number of drinks consumed. A total of 77.1% (573\/743) of participants in the intervention group accessed at least 1 app component during the study period.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n In a general population sample of university students, the Minder app was effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, with provisional support for increasing mental well-being and reducing the frequency of cannabis and alcohol use. These findings highlight the potential ability of e-tools focused on prevention and early intervention to be integrated into existing university systems to support students\u2019 needs.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Trial Registration<\/jats:title>\n ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05606601; https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT05606601<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)<\/jats:title>\n RR2-10.2196\/49364<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/54287","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,27]],"date-time":"2024-03-27T11:01:10Z","timestamp":1711537270000},"page":"e54287","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":38,"title":["Effectiveness of the Minder Mobile Mental Health and Substance Use Intervention for University Students: Randomized Controlled Trial"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0378-3296","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Melissa","family":"Vereschagin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2001-2220","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Angel Y","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7641-7027","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chris G","family":"Richardson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3328-7135","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hui","family":"Xie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8492-7409","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Richard 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