Background/Objective: Depression is a common mental health disorder and an emerging public health concern. Few studies have investigated prevalence and predictors of depression severity in the Irish context. To investigate the relative contribution of known risk factors that predicts depression severity in a treatment-seeking sample of adults in Ireland. Method: As part of a randomised controlled trial of an internet-delivered intervention for depression participants (N = 641) completed online screening questionnaires including BDI-II and information associated with common predictors of depression. Results: The mean score on the BDI-II was 24.13 (SD = 11.20). Several factors were shown to predict greater severity of depression in the sample including female gender, younger age, unemployment, being single or partnered as opposed to married, previous diagnosis of depression, recent experience of life stressors. Alcohol use, recent losses, knowing a suicide completer, education level, type of employment and income level were not found to be significant. Conclusions: The study contributes to the profiling of the incidence and predictors of severity of depression in an Irish context. The results confirm some of the known risk factors and highlight the need for further research to be carried out on screening for depression and increasing access to interventions.

BackgroundIn recent years, university counseling and mental health services have reported an increase in the number of clients seeking services and in yearly visits. This trend has been observed at many universities, indicating that behavioral and mental health issues pose significant problems for many college students.The aim of this study is to assess the acceptability and proof of concept of internet-delivered treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress for university students.Methods/designThe study is an open feasibility trial of the SilverCloud programs for depression (Space from Depression), anxiety (Space from Anxiety), and stress (Space from Stress). All three are 8-module internet-delivered CBT (iCBT) intervention programs. Participants are assigned a supporter who provides weekly feedback on progress and exercises. Participants will complete the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and stress subscale of the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) as the outcome measures for the depression, anxiety, and stress interventions, respectively. Other outcomes include measures of acceptability of, and satisfaction, with the intervention. Data will be collected at baseline, 8 weeks and 3-month follow-up.DiscussionIt is anticipated that the study will inform the researchers and service personnel of the programs’ potential to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress in a student population as well as the protocols to be employed in a future trial. In addition, it will provide insight into students’ engagement with the programs, their user experience, and their satisfaction with the online delivery format.

IntroductionTechnological innovation has been pervasive and has touched almost every aspect of modern life, including the delivery of behavioural and mental heath care. As telehealth expands, internet interventions are particularly interesting as a medium of delivering effective care. However, standards are required to help inform healthcare policy makers, providers, clinicians and patients.ObjectiveMove towards outlining a gold standard for internet-delivered behavioural and mental health interventions.AimsContribute and build upon existing standards and guidelines for the practice of telehealth, but to now extend these to include internet-delivered interventions.MethodsDrawing from research, experience and practice, the authors propose a matrix for the evaluation of what might be considered a gold standard for internet-delivered behavioural and mental health interventions.ResultsSeven elements are proposed and considered aspects of what would constitute a gold standard and they include, the use of evidence-based and empirically supported content, robust, engaging, secure and responsive technologies, shaped by behavioural health subject matter experts, employ user-centred design and development principles, have a focus on accountable care-achieving clinical outcomes, have research and evaluation that supports its effectiveness, and a well developed implementation science and support.ConclusionThe paper proposes some characteristics that could compose a gold standard for internet-delivered interventions for behavioural and mental health care. The contribution is neither exhaustive nor conclusive, but offers an invitation to the discussion.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

As part of community-engaged educational partnerships, students are paired with community members in instructor-focused activities linked to an academic curriculum.  Scholars widely agree that this type of approach can significantly improve the learning experience for students while simultaneously having a positive impact on the community.  As faculty in higher education implement this pedagogical tool, it is a natural progression for it to expand into online classrooms.  In particular, while there is a growing body of research related to community engagement in online healthcare and science-related fields, less research exists on the incorporation of community engagement in other types of online pre-professional courses.  This paper explores student perceptions in online pre-professional undergraduate courses in the legal studies and human resources fields in which community engagement projects were utilized.  These experiences should lead to a deeper understanding of the benefits and challenges of community-engaged online classrooms and give guidance for developing future projects.

Background: In recent years, University counseling and mental health services have reported an increase in the number of clients seeking services and in yearly visits. This trend has been observed at many universities, indicating that behavioral and mental health issues pose significant problems for many college students. With the move toward the provision of value-and quality-based health care, there is an increasing focus on person-centered health care and patient preference of treatment. A healthcare service that is person-centered considers the specific needs of an individual, and the service is subsequently tailored to meet the person's needs. As a result, health care professionals are giving increased recognition to patients' unique insights into their own health and their preferences for treatments, which is increasing patients' involvement in their own treatment decisions. This increase in patient involvement is an important step towards quality improvements in mental health services as it is associated with improved health outcomes. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the acceptability and proof of concept of Internet-delivered patient preference treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress for university students. Methods: The study is an open feasibility trial of the SilverCloud programs for depression (Space from Depression), anxiety (Space from Anxiety), and stress (Space from Stress). All 3 are 8-module Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) intervention programs. Participants (N=105) are assigned a supporter who provides weekly feedback on progress and exercises. Primary outcome measures are the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and stress subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) for assessment of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Based on these initial measures, patients are given a choice between the 3 intervention programs.