JMIR Form Res. 2024 Jun 24. doi: 10.2196/58263. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Loneliness, depression, and anxiety are highly prevalent among US adults, especially among socio-demographically vulnerable populations. Virtual peer support is a potentially cost-effective, scalable intervention. This study prospectively evaluated the effects of digitally-enabled peer support on mental health outcomes and estimated medical cost reductions among 243 vulnerable adults with symptomatic depression, anxiety, and significant loneliness. We found that participants from diverse race/ethnicities, genders and socio-economic groups engaged with peer support and experienced statistically and clinically significant improvements in their mental health and an estimated annual medical costs reduction of $1,025 per participant. We believe this work will inform ongoing discussions related to the use of digitally-enabled peer support to address the mental health crisis in the US.
PMID:38941568 | DOI:10.2196/58263
