# Randomized controlled trial of a choice-driven, interactive, storytelling web-based app to investigate mental health treatment initiation among symptomatic Latinas

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $782,069

## Abstract

Abstract
Most symptomatic Latina women do not receive a diagnosis or initiate mental health (MH) treatment (Tx) when
warranted. Stigma, cultural concerns, distrust of professionals, lack of insurance, and not knowing where to get
help are barriers so many suffer from untreated depression and/or anxiety. Due to high social media and
YouTube use and high demand for story-based media among Latinas, however, our multidisciplinary team
created and tested a choice-driven, Hollywood-quality web-based app featuring transmedia storytelling videos
called Catalina: Confronting My Emotions/ Enfrentando Mis Emociones (in English and Spanish) to help
Latinas overcome barriers to initiate MH Tx. Multiple waves of theater-testing and pilot testing showed
symptomatic, untreated Latinas reported high identification with the Latina lead-character and high trust of the
Latina nurse-therapist character; all was developed using composite data from past qualitative studies with
Latinas. Using transmedia (storytelling across multiple digital platforms), the story expands beyond a traditional
episode through character-driven, interactive bonus videos and social media posts of the characters that are
also psychoeducational plus a character’s blog with links to free MH resources and recommendations of local
clinics offering low-cost Tx plus Tx locator. A Latinx cast, director, and script writer enhance socio-cultural
acceptability and bring Latinas back to re-watch videos. Access is discreet via smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Guided by Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior and supported in feasibility and efficacy testing, we identified
targets that mediate help-seeking behavior change including attitudes, propensity to seek help, and stigma. For
this 2-arm RCT, Aim 1 is to determine the effectiveness of the Catalina experimental transmedia web-based
app compared to a control condition (informational MH videos but no story, links to publicly available MH
websites, and Tx locator for low-cost options) across 9 months (baseline, 1, 5, and 9 months) to catalyze
therapy or pharmacotherapy initiation. Both groups will receive monthly reminder messages via text or email.
Consent procedures allow for verification from medical records if MH Tx appointments were made, kept, or
missed and if prescriptions were filled. We hypothesize that, compared to controls, a significantly greater
proportion of the Catalina group will initiate MH Tx during the 9-month study. Aim 2 is to test the mediation role
of the targets (help-seeking attitudes, propensity to seek help, and stigma) across 9 months to initiate MH Tx in
Catalina vs. control groups. The sample will include 876 English and Spanish speaking Latinas, age 18 and
older, who are untreated but symptomatic for depression and/or anxiety (>10 on PHQ8 or GAD7) and who
have internet access. All aspects of the study are done online. If hypothesized relationships are supported this
study has potential for high impact on English and Spanish spe...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10952281
- **Project number:** 1R01MH137232-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** MarySue V Heilemann
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $782,069
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-15 → 2029-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10952281

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10952281, Randomized controlled trial of a choice-driven, interactive, storytelling web-based app to investigate mental health treatment initiation among symptomatic Latinas (1R01MH137232-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10952281. Licensed CC0.

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