Hendrikx LJ, Murphy D. Supporting the Mental Health Needs of Military Partners Through the Together Webinar Program: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
JMIR Ment Health 2021;
8:e25622. [PMID:
34636734 PMCID:
PMC8548968 DOI:
10.2196/25622]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Despite an increased risk of psychological difficulties, there remains a lack of evidence-based support for the mental health needs of military partners.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to investigate whether the Together Webinar Programme (TTP-Webinar), a 6-week structured, remote access group intervention would reduce military partners' experience of common mental health difficulties and secondary trauma symptoms.
METHODS
A pilot randomized controlled trial was used to compare the TTP-Webinar intervention with a waitlist control. The sample was UK treatment-seeking veterans engaged in a mental health charity. A total of 196 military partners (1 male and 195 females; aged mean 42.28, SD 10.82 years) were randomly allocated to the intervention (n=97) or waitlist (n=99) condition. Outcome measures were self-reported measures of common mental health difficulties, secondary trauma symptoms, and overall quality of life rating.
RESULTS
Compared with the waitlist, military partners in the TTP-Webinar had reduced common mental health difficulties (P=.02) and secondary trauma symptoms (P=.001). However, there was no difference in quality-of-life ratings (P=.06).
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that TTP-Webinar is an effective intervention to support the mental health difficulties of military partners. This study provides promising evidence that webinars may be an appropriate platform for providing group-based support.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05013398; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05013398.
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