The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a medical-social collaboration model works to reduce depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults with depressive symptoms who are waiting for their first psychiatric appointment. Secondary outcomes of the study include reduced anxiety symptoms, reduced loneliness, reduced rumination, reduced self-criticism, improved self-reassurance, improved resilience, improved self-efficacy, improved health-related quality of life, as well as improved quality-adjusted life years, and reduced healthcare service utilisation.
Researchers will compare a medical-social collaboration model to a self-management booklet.
Participants will:
* Receive CBT-based stepped-care interventions through the medical-social collaboration model or a self-management booklet. * Complete a survey about their mental health and service use every three months until their first psychiatric appointment.
Currently awaiting psychiatric services provided by the Hospital Authority
Have depressive symptoms of at least mild severity
Able to provide informed consent
A known history of autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease, or dementia
Imminent suicidal risk (temporary exclusion)
Communication difficulties that preclude participation
The University of Hong Kong
Lead sponsor
Hospital Authority Hong Kong West Cluster
Collaborator
Kowloon Hospital, Hong Kong
Collaborator
Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Collaborator
United Christian Hospital
Collaborator
Kwai Chung Hospital
Collaborator
Castle Peak Hospital
Collaborator