Sharper Minds 2021 Pilot Report

Sharper Minds is a stepped care package designed by the researchers in collaboration with students and UQ Health Care providers to increase awareness and use of mental health prevention strategies among first year university students. The package was 'soft launched' in 2021, and this report presents findings from the pilot evaluation. The pilot adopted a non-randomised controlled design with 266 students (33% international students). Of these, 157 were in the INTERVENTION condition (students who participated in any aspect of the Sharper Minds package: app tracker or one of the short courses) and 109 were in the CONTROL condition (students who completed pre and post surveys only). Results showed a significantly greater benefit to students in the Intervention v Control on pre to post changes in % screening positive for mental health problems, and scores on measures of depression, wellbeing, and loneliness. Students in both conditions improved across semester on measures of anxiety, somatic symptoms, number of academic stressors and number of COVID-19 related stressors. The pilot also provided practical training for 15 Masters in Psychology students and 2 Masters in Dietetics students; and research thesis projects for 1 Masters in Clinical Psychology student; 21 Psychology Honours students; and 5 Exercise Physiology Honours students.