Enhancing Depression Literacy and Reducing Stigma in Adolescents Through Social Media

Summary

Depression is a highly common mental disorder that often begins in adolescence. Despite its high burden and negative consequences, few young people seek professional help due to, e.g., low mental health literacy and fear of stigma. Since adolescents frequently seek health information online and use social media daily, the project "ich bin alles" (English: "I am everything"; www.ich-bin-alles.de) was launched to provide easily accessible, age-appropriate, and evidence-based information about depression and mental health via digital platforms including a website and social media channels (e.g., Instagram). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the "ich bin alles"- Instagram channel in improving depression literacy, reducing stigma, and encouraging help-seeking behavior, as well as assessing user acceptance and content reception.

Conditions

• Depressive Disorder
• Depression - Major Depressive Disorder
• Depression in Adolescence

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

"ich bin alles"

The web-based information platform "ich bin alles" (www-ich-bin-alles.de) on depression and mental health in youth as well as its Social Media channels were developed by the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy of the LMU Munich Hospital together with the Prof. Otto Beisheim Foundation. It is aimed at youth with depression, healthy youth, and their parents. The project focuses on education, prevention, low-threshold support, and destigmatisation through the transfer of evidence-based knowledge and hands-on supportive materials. Information material on Instagram is posted four times a week in the form of a post, a longer explanatory video and two reels (i.e. short videos with overlays of text and music). All content is evidence-based information created by the research team and is primarily based on the "ich bin alles" page.

BEHAVIORAL

Instagram profile that provides educational content

The participants of the control group asked to follow an Instagram profile that provides educational content produced by a public broadcaster (https://www.instagram.com/terrax/) and is not dedicated to the topic of mental health. This channel also posts several times a week and provides educational or informational content.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Prof. Otto Beisheim Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• Ludwig-Maximilians - University of Munich

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gerd Schulte-Körne, Prof. Dr. · Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

13 Years

Max Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-01

Primary Completion

2025-10-22

Completion

2025-10-22

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations