Title: MIND IN MOTION: EVALUATION OF AN EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS WITH DEPRESSION.
Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Guy Faulkner
Committee members: Dr. Jasmin Ma, Dr. Andrea Bundon
Defence Chair: Dr. Erica Bennett
Abstract: Post-secondary student mental health is a serious concern with up to 70% of students reporting depressive symptoms. Exercise could be an effective treatment alternative to address the demand for support on campus and long wait times to receive care. However, there is limited evidence on strategies for integrating exercise referral pathways into mental health care particularly in post-secondary settings. Drawing on the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, the objective of this research was to conduct a program evaluation of Mind in Motion (MIM), an on-campus evidence-based exercise referral program for post-secondary students with depression. MIM is a 6-week exercise program with personal training delivered in collaboration with mental health services. Participants recruited for this evaluation include post-secondary students (SPs) referred to MIM, exercise professionals (EPs), and referring mental health providers (CS staff). In a single-arm pre-post pilot study, mixed-methods data were collected including self-report symptom questionnaires, attendance records, and semi-structured interviews with SPs (N:8), EPs (N:5), and CS (N:5) staff at the intervention’s conclusion. Pre-post self-report symptom changes for student participants were positive with improvements in symptoms of depression (PHQ-9 scores decreasing from 10.6 (n=16) to 5.27 (n=11)), anxiety (GAD-7 scores decreasing 10.13 (n=16) to 6.09 (n=11)), and overall wellbeing (FS increased from 37.94 (n=16) to 43 (n=11)). Self-reported weekly minutes of MVPA (IPAQ-SF) increased from 82.86 (n=14) at baseline to 246 minutes (n=10) post program. Overall, this evaluation found that reach was limited due to low adoption rates of CS staff sending referrals. Despite this, MIM participation was associated with improvements in students’ mental health outcomes and all program partners see value in the long-term maintenance of MIM on campus. Future implementation of MIM should: 1) expand reach through further training of CS staff and by adding additional referral pathways to MIM, 2) shift to group exercise sessions, and 3) include further training of EPs to support SP behaviour change. The results of this evaluation will be used to inform future iterations of MIM and adds to the emerging literature on developing referral pathways between mental health practitioners and EPs for individuals seeking treatment for depression.