Presentation Information
[SY-107-04]INFORMED-Living Well: Outcomes of a Multilingual Program to Promote Emotional Wellness in Asian Americans Living in California
*Janice Y. Tsoh1,9, JiWon Choi1,9, Joyce Cheng2, Susan L Stewart3, Sonia Picht1, Chia Thao4, Dao Lor5, Mai Pham6, Feng Ming Li1,9, Kamhung Lam3,9, Weeko Vang1, Nola Vu5,9, Ching Wong1, Justin Wong, Phillip Yang1,9, Stephanie Yu1,9, Minji Kim7,9, Andreea Seritan1, Nancy Burke8,9, Tung T. Nguyen1,9 (1.Univ. of California San Francisco(United States of America), 2.Chinese Community Health Resource Center(United States of America), 3.Univ. of California Davis(United States of America), 4.California State University Bakersfield(United States of America), 5.The Fresno Center(United States of America), 6.Immigrant Resettlement & Cultural Center(United States of America), 7.Univ. of South Carolina(United States of America), 8.Univ. of California Merced(United States of America), 9.Asian American Research Center on Health (ARCH)(United States of America))
Keywords:
Cultural psychiatry,Immigrant mental health,Mental health disparities,Community-based intervention,Asian American mental well-being
BACKGROUND: Asian Americans, the fastest-growing immigrant group in the United States, experience significant mental health disparities and use mental health services the least among racial groups. Culturally and linguistically tailored interventions are critically needed.
METHOD: We evaluated a 6-week “INFORMED-Living Well” program in a non-randomized preference trial to enhance informed mental health decisions, resource awareness, and emotional well-being among Asian American adults in California. Participants chose their preferred language (English, Chinese, Korean, Hmong or Vietnamese) and intervention: text messages only (Text-Only) or text plus lay health educator outreach (Text+LHE) via 2 Zoom sessions and 2 follow-up calls. Outcomes at 8 weeks were compared using generalized linear mixed models, adjusting for individual-, interpersonal-, and community-level covariates.
RESULTS: From March to June 2024, 616 Asian American adults enrolled; 112 (18.2%) chose Text+LHE. The mean age was 41.6 years (18-85), 64.6% were female, 75.0% were immigrants, and 49.0% spoke limited English. The sample included 26.6% Chinese, 27.4% Hmong, 20.8% Korean, 20.5% Vietnamese, and 4.7% other Asians. One-third (32.7%) reported elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms (PHQ4 score >2) at baseline. Retention rate was 93.0%. At week 8, 92.0% recommended the program (Text-Only: 91.2%; Text+LHE: 95.3%; p>0.05). Text+LHE participants had higher odds of knowing the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline (OR: 5.99, 95%CI: 3.36, 10.68) and where to get help for mental health issues (OR: 1.93, 95%CI: 1.02, 3.67), but no differences in decisions about help-seeking or PHQ4 scores.
CONCLUSIONS: The multilingual “INFORMED-Living Well” program, using text messaging with or without LHE support, was well-received. The addition of LHE support shows promise in raising awareness of mental health resources but did not yield differences in decision-making or clinical mental health symptoms. Future research should incorporate a randomized controlled trial with a preference-informed complementary trial design to optimize methodological rigor and participant engagement.
METHOD: We evaluated a 6-week “INFORMED-Living Well” program in a non-randomized preference trial to enhance informed mental health decisions, resource awareness, and emotional well-being among Asian American adults in California. Participants chose their preferred language (English, Chinese, Korean, Hmong or Vietnamese) and intervention: text messages only (Text-Only) or text plus lay health educator outreach (Text+LHE) via 2 Zoom sessions and 2 follow-up calls. Outcomes at 8 weeks were compared using generalized linear mixed models, adjusting for individual-, interpersonal-, and community-level covariates.
RESULTS: From March to June 2024, 616 Asian American adults enrolled; 112 (18.2%) chose Text+LHE. The mean age was 41.6 years (18-85), 64.6% were female, 75.0% were immigrants, and 49.0% spoke limited English. The sample included 26.6% Chinese, 27.4% Hmong, 20.8% Korean, 20.5% Vietnamese, and 4.7% other Asians. One-third (32.7%) reported elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms (PHQ4 score >2) at baseline. Retention rate was 93.0%. At week 8, 92.0% recommended the program (Text-Only: 91.2%; Text+LHE: 95.3%; p>0.05). Text+LHE participants had higher odds of knowing the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline (OR: 5.99, 95%CI: 3.36, 10.68) and where to get help for mental health issues (OR: 1.93, 95%CI: 1.02, 3.67), but no differences in decisions about help-seeking or PHQ4 scores.
CONCLUSIONS: The multilingual “INFORMED-Living Well” program, using text messaging with or without LHE support, was well-received. The addition of LHE support shows promise in raising awareness of mental health resources but did not yield differences in decision-making or clinical mental health symptoms. Future research should incorporate a randomized controlled trial with a preference-informed complementary trial design to optimize methodological rigor and participant engagement.