Monday, December 15, 2025 12/15/2025

Mobile Health to Monitor Risk for COVID-19 and Improve Mental Health during the Pandemic

Award Number: R01MH126586
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/05/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

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Mobile Health to Monitor Risk for COVID-19 and Improve Mental Health during the Pandemic - ABSTRACT Clear health disparities have emerged in rates of COVID-19 exposure, hospitalization, and death among Black, Latinx, and American Indian (BLAI) individuals, relative to Non-Latino White (NLW) individuals, and BLAI populations are disproportionately affected by lower behavioral health access and heightened negative mental health outcomes as a result of the pandemic. The current project directly aligns with the objectives of PAR-20- 243 as it addresses health disparities in access to behavioral health care during COVID-19 among BLAI via an adaptation of the established, initially validated, low-cost, mobile application (‘app’) that will target ongoing mental health concerns among BLAI with elevated anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. Utilizing a precision medicine approach, the Easing Anxiety Sensitivity for Everyone (EASE) app targets anxiety sensitivity, a transdiagnostic individual difference factor implicated in the etiology, maintenance, and progression of anxiety and depressive symptoms. EASE includes COVID-19 symptom monitoring, exposure management skills, and psychoeducation on COVID-19-related stress and the impact of stress on susceptibility to infection and disease progression. Participants (N = 800; 200 Black, 200 Latinx, 200 American Indian, and 200 NLW) will be randomized to either EASE or to an active standard-of-care control digital intervention (Headspace app) for anxiety and depression. The present study will include a baseline assessment, a 3-month intervention period, a 3-month continued assessment period (with access to intervention materials), and 3- and 6-month post- baseline assessments that includes a qualitative interview via phone or online platform (e.g., Zoom) at the 6- month follow-up. Participants will complete two scheduled daily ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) during the intervention and continued assessment periods that will guide a just-in-time approach to immediate, personalized behavioral health care. Assessments will be completed remotely. Aim 1. To compare the effect of EASE with COVID-19 specific elements (n = 400) to an established empirically validated standard-of-care digital intervention with COVID-19 specific elements (n = 400). To evaluate the efficacy of the experimental intervention across each race/ethnic group. Aim 2. To identify the therapeutic mechanisms of EASE, including theoretically driven mediators (i.e., anxiety sensitivity, subsequent changes in COVID-19 related stress and fear) and moderators (i.e., perceived racial discrimination, social support, and socioeconomic status). Overall, the current proposal has the potential to significantly impact public health and safety by decreasing anxiety and depression symptoms among vulnerable populations determined to be most at risk of exacerbated, long-lasting negative health sequelae.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = -$90,712 )
2026	2023	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4300 MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77204	HARRIS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	12/5/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$90,712
														Subtotal = -$90,712

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $834,021 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4300 MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77204	HARRIS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	4/3/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$742,677
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4800 W CALHOUN ST STE 316	HOUSTON	TX	77004	HARRIS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	11/22/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$25,641
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4300 MARTIN LUTHER KING BLVD	HOUSTON	TX	77204	HARRIS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	3	4/5/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$65,703
														Subtotal = $834,021

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $968,064 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4800 W CALHOUN ST STE 316	HOUSTON	TX	77004	HARRIS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	6/15/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4800 W CALHOUN ST STE 316	HOUSTON	TX	77004	HARRIS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	3/30/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$968,064
														Subtotal = $968,064

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $968,475 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM	4800 W CALHOUN ST STE 316	HOUSTON	TX	77004	HARRIS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	5/7/2021	NEW	$968,475
														Subtotal = $968,475

Grand Total All Awards = $2,679,848

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Mobile Health to Monitor Risk for COVID-19 and Improve Mental Health during the Pandemic

Award Number: R01MH126586

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/05/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2025

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