RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health (BEAM) 2024-2027

The BEAM program is a mobile app designed to help parents improve their own mental well-being and support their child's development. This study is for parents in Manitoba, Canada, who have children aged 2 to 5 years old and are experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, or anger. Many parents faced extra challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to higher levels of stress. The BEAM app aims to provide support and tools to help manage these feelings and improve family life. Researchers want to see how well BEAM works in real-life settings for both parents and children, and if it's a helpful and easy-to-use solution for communities.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Leslie E. Roos

Enrolment target

400

Start

11 Mar 2024

Estimated completion

01 Jun 2027

Depression, Anxiety Anger Parenting Stress, Psychological Parent-Child Relations Child Development

What is this study about?

Children's early years are incredibly important for their growth and development, and things like a parent's mental health can have a big impact. Unfortunately, parents faced a lot of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many more experienced mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. This can sometimes affect how they parent and, in turn, their child's emotional and social development.

The Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health (BEAM) program is an innovative mobile app designed to help parents experiencing these difficulties. It provides tools and psychoeducation (learning about mental health) to help parents manage feelings like depression, anxiety, stress, and anger. Previous small studies have shown that BEAM can help parents feel better and even reduce harsh parenting practices. This larger study aims to see how well BEAM works for families in the wider community across Manitoba.

Researchers will be looking at two main things: first, if the BEAM program truly helps improve children's mental well-being and development. Second, they want to understand how easy and useful the BEAM app is for parents to use in their everyday lives. They'll also look at long-term family outcomes and whether the BEAM program is a cost-effective way to support families compared to other available services. This study is an important step towards making this helpful program available to more families for the future.

Key takeaways

Study tests a mobile app (BEAM) for parental mental health and child development.
Aimed at parents in Manitoba with children aged 2-5 who have depression, anxiety, stress, or anger.
Involves 12 weeks of app use, online support, and check-ins with a peer coach.
Participation includes completing questionnaires over a 12-month period.
You can invite a co-parent to join the program too (starting 2025).
Aims to understand if BEAM helps families and is easy to use in the community.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for parents or primary caregivers who live in Manitoba, Canada, and are 18 years or older. You'll need to have a child who is currently between 2 and 5 years old (24 to 71 months).

To join, you should be experiencing some moderate to severe feelings of depression, anxiety, parenting stress, or anger. The research team will use questionnaires to check this, but if your symptoms aren't considered 'moderate to severe,' they will review your situation to see if you can still take part, as their goal is to help those who need it.

Unfortunately, you can't join if you've already been part of a previous BEAM study, or if you've had a serious self-harm incident needing medical care in the last six months or a suicide attempt in the past year, unless you are already receiving ongoing individual therapy for these serious risks.

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 or older?
Do you live in Manitoba, Canada?
Do you have a child who is between 2 and 5 years old?
Are you experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, significant stress, or anger?
Do you have access to an electronic device and the internet (or would you contact the team for help)?
Have you not participated in a BEAM study before?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join the study, you'll use the BEAM app for 12 weeks. This involves going through 'psychoeducation modules,' which are like educational sessions within the app. You'll also have access to an online group where you can chat with other parents and receive support from a 'peer coach' through calls, messages, or video chats. These check-ins are generally 15 to 60 minutes long.

You'll be asked to complete four sets of questionnaires. The first set will be before you start using BEAM, then immediately after the 12 weeks, and again at 6 months and 12 months after the program ends. Each set of questionnaires should take about 45 minutes to complete. You'll need access to an electronic device (like a smartphone or tablet) and internet to use the app and participate in video calls. If you don't have suitable access, the research team might be able to help provide a device.

Starting in 2025, you'll have the option to invite another parenting partner (like your child's other parent, step-parent, or another primary caregiver such as a grandparent) to join the program with you. This 'co-parent' will also get access to the BEAM app and its features, though they won't have a peer coach and won't need to meet the same symptom requirements as you.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer several potential benefits. You might find that your feelings of depression, anxiety, parenting stress, or anger lessen, and you could learn new ways to manage your emotions and parenting challenges. This could also positively impact your child's mental health and development. While the BEAM program has shown promise, there's always a chance that it might not work for everyone, and your symptoms might not improve. There are also no known significant physical risks. However, some parents might find discussing personal feelings challenging or upsetting at times, or the time commitment of using the app and completing questionnaires could feel burdensome. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your healthcare or your relationship with the researchers.

Locations (1)

University of Manitoba - Department of Psychology & Pediatrics
Verified postcode
Winnipeg, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What exactly is the BEAM program?

BEAM stands for Building Emotional Awareness and Mental Health. It's a mobile app that offers lessons and support to help parents manage feelings like stress, anxiety, and anger, ultimately benefiting their child's development.

How long will I be involved in the study?

You'll use the BEAM app for 12 weeks. We'll also ask you to complete questionnaires at the beginning, right after the program, and then at 6 and 12 months later.

Do I need to live in a specific area to participate?

Yes, this study is specifically looking for parents who live in Manitoba, Canada. We'll need to confirm your address.

What if I don't have a smartphone or tablet for the app?

If you don't have an electronic device for the app and videos, please contact the research team. They might be able to provide one for you for the duration of the study.

Can my child's other parent or a grandparent join too?

Yes, starting in 2025, you can invite one other parenting partner to join you in the BEAM program. They will get access to the app but won't have a peer coach.

How to find out more

Leslie E Roos, PhD

leslie.roos@umanitoba.ca 2044747400 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.