Improving mental health of young Australians with chronic illness: A pilot study of the effectiveness of online self-compassion training

INTERVENTION: A 4 week online self‐compassion intervention consisting of a total of 4 modules. Each module of the intervention involves reading information and listening to short videos about self‐compassion and practicing various meditations that are guided by audio recordings. The intervention aims to increase the young persons self‐compassion by practicing skills such as loving‐kindness meditations and mindfulness. The 4 week program is designed to be completed over a 4 week period. Each module can be completed in about an hour but participants may choose to take their time and complete modules more slowly. Modules are to be completed once per week over a total of 4 weeks. The intervention is completely self‐guided. Video demonstrations are all by a psychologist with expertise in self‐compassion training. Participants will be sent automated email reminders to complete modules each week once the program is initiated. Participants will have access to the program for up to 3 months. CONDITION: Mental Health ‐ Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Depression mental health; ; mental health PRIMARY OUTCOME: General Psychological Distress measured by Kessler‐10 item psychological distress scale (K‐10).[Baseline (before intervention) and post‐intervention (immediately following the 4 week program).] Self‐Compassion as measured by Short Form of the Self‐Compassion Scale (SCS‐SF[Baseline (before intervention) and post‐intervention (immediately following the 4 week program).] Wellbeing as measured by the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WHO‐5)[Baseline (before intervention) and post‐intervention (immediately following the 4 week program).] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Emotion Regulation as measured by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Short Form (DERS‐SF)[Baseline (before intervention) and post‐intervention (immediately following the 4 week program).] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Aged between 16‐25 years, with a current diagnosis of chronic illnesses (for example arthritis, asthma, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, haemophilia, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and myalgic encephalomyelitis).