Improving mental health during crisis: Outcomes from the EMERALD online lifestyle medicine and coaching program.

Significant improvements were observed across all mental health outcome measures following the 8-week EMERALD program.

• Outcomes assessed included depression, anxiety, wellbeing, loneliness, and functioning across life domains (e.g., occupational, social, daily responsibilities)
• All measures used were validated self-report instruments
• Assessments were completed at baseline (week 1) and post-intervention (week 8)
• The study used a single arm, pre-post observational design

Greater wellbeing gains were observed among participants with higher baseline depression severity.

• This moderation effect was identified within the pre-post observational design
• Eligible participants reported mild to moderate anxiety or mood symptoms (PHQ-9 < 14; GAD-7 < 14)
• Individuals with severe symptoms, suicide risk, or current psychological or psychiatric treatment were excluded

The EMERALD program was delivered as an 8-week online lifestyle medicine and health coaching clinical service during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The program combined health coaching with lifestyle medicine and online delivery to improve accessibility and effectiveness
• Lifestyle medicine is described as a first-line treatment for common mental health disorders
• The program was delivered to community participants reporting mild to moderate anxiety or mood symptoms

The study sample consisted of 85 adults who completed all outcome measures, with a mean age of 46.47 years (SD = 15.47).

• Most participants identified as female (83.5%)
• Participants were community-based adults eligible based on mild to moderate symptom thresholds (PHQ-9 < 14; GAD-7 < 14)
• Individuals with severe symptoms, suicide risk, or current engagement in psychological or psychiatric treatment were excluded from participation

Online delivery of lifestyle medicine combined with health coaching was supported as an effective approach for improving psychological wellbeing during periods of elevated need.

• The intervention was designed to address growing demand on mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Online delivery was framed as a mechanism for improving scalability and accessibility of early mental health interventions
• Findings were described as supporting 'the benefits of online mental health coaching and lifestyle medicine interventions for improving psychological wellbeing during periods of elevated need'