What is the purpose of this study?

We (the research team based at the University of Washington) are conducting a randomized controlled trial of the NORTH app. We want to know if the app will help users seek specialty mental health treatment. To test this, all users will receive a version of NORTH that contains lessons and practices to help develop coping skills and learn about psychosis, and some users will receive additional guidance and information related to seeking specialty mental health treatment. 

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What will my participation look like?

This study is 100% remote, which means you can participate from anywhere in the United States. Here's a quick rundown:

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1. You'll take our eligibility survey. This should take 10 minutes or so.

2. If you're eligible, you'll be asked to complete some surveys (30-45 minutes) about your attitudes toward mental health treatment, your stress levels, and your experience of stigma.

3. You will download NORTH with a study team member on Zoom to help. You will receive the first $60 payment after the installation session.

4. You'll use NORTH for twelve weeks. We expect that you'll use NORTH frequently in short spurts (for example, about five minutes each day or 15 minutes every few days). Each week, you'll receive a short (2 minute) survey about your experience using the app and how you feel about mental health treatment. At the six-week mark, you'll complete the same surveys you did in step 2. You will receive the second $60 payment after completing the six-week assessments. 

5. At the end of your trial, you will uninstall NORTH from your phone and complete the same assessments for a third time. You will receive the final $60 payment after completing the 12-week assessments, for a total of $180. 

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Who will see my data?

The research team will have access to the amount of time you spend in the app each day, and the numeric scores you choose for overall wellbeing. No one will have access to anything you write in the app; anything you write in the app will not be stored. You will have the option to export your responses to a location of your choice. If you decline to export responses, they will be deleted. 

 

All identifiers (like your name or email address) will be kept on secure databases and not shared outside the research team. Once you are enrolled in our study, you will be assigned a number, which will be associated with your responses to surveys and time spent in the NORTH application. We will not link any identifying information to study data after the eligibility survey. If we publish our findings from these sessions, there will be no identifiable information published. 

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Why do you pay people? 

We send Amazon gift cards to express our thanks for participating -- we know you're busy, and we value your time.