ENgage YOung people earlY (ENYOY): eHeadspace GN in the Netherlands.

Background: The onset of mental disorders typically occurs between the ages of 12 and 25, and the burden of mental health problems is greatest for this group. Indicated prevention interventions to target individuals with subclinical symptoms to prevent the transition to clinical levels of disorders have shown to be effective. However, the threshold to seek help appears to be high even when help is needed. Online interventions could offer a solution, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. This implementation study will research the online indicated prevention intervention ENgage Young peOple Early (ENYOY), the Dutch version of the original eHeadspace GN from Australia, for youth (12-25 years) experiencing the early stages of mental health complaints. In addition, the relationship between stress biomarkers, symptoms and outcome measures of youth using the website is also object of this study.
Methods: The eHeadspace GN website will be adapted, translated and developed for the situation in the Netherlands together with a Youth Panel. A prospective cohort of 125 young people (12-25 years) with beginning mental health complaints will be on the platform and followed for a year, of which those who are interested will have an additional smart-watch and 10 participants will be asked to provide feedback about their experiences on the platform. Data will be collected at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months. Outcome measures are Psychological Distress assessed with the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS), positive mental health indicators measured by the positive health instrument, stress biomarkers with a smart-watch, website journeys of visitors, and feedback of youth on the platform. It will be a mixed study design, containing qualitative and quantitative measures.
Discussion: Considering the waiting lists in (Child and adolescent)psychiatry and the increase in suicides among youths, early low-threshold and non-stigmatizing help for young people with emerging psychiatric symptoms is of crucial importance. The current project could make a contribution.

Our hypothesis is that the project will attain similar results of improvement among young people in psychological distress and psychosocial functioning with the eHeadspace GN website in the Netherlands.

Data will be collected at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months

i) peer-to-peer on-line social networking;
ii) individually tailored interactive psychosocial interventions;
iii) involvement of expert mental health and peer moderators to ensure the safety of the intervention and to directly support participants with moderation and eventual with chats.