Supporting Our Valued Adolescents Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

"The SOVA intervention includes:~* a welcome email to the websites (adolescents also get a SOVA intro video and mobile app)~* adolescents will have access to the website specifically for adolescents: sova.pitt.edu~* parents will have access to the website specifically for parents: wisesova.pitt.edu~These anonymous websites aim to: (1) challenge negative health beliefs and increase depression/anxiety knowledge through daily blog posts enhanced with peer commentary; (2) promote social support through online peer interactions; and (3) encourage parent-adolescent mental health communication through same day blog posts with questions for discussion. Parents and adolescents cannot log on to each other's sites. The sites are moderated by our research team.~The SOVA websites include articles composed by SOVA Peer Ambassadors who are adolescents and young adults who have experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety and contribute monthly articles and regular comments."

A social worker at the Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Health (CAYAH) clinic helps to facilitate referrals from the adolescent healthcare provider (AHCP) and contacts patients who do not schedule for within-CAYAH appointments.The study will send an extra email to the parent and adolescent that contains the content of the depart summary as well as a list of psychoeducational materials, how to contact the AHCP, CAYAH social worker, and crisis resources and the AHCP's treatment recommendation which are obtained from the electronic health record. Also, each individual will receive a phone call from a research assistant who will communicate the information in the email and offer to inform the social worker or AHCP of questions the patient or parent may have.