Counseling program aims to boost mental health and HIV prevention in young women

NCT ID NCT05664490

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested a counseling program called Youth Friendship Bench SA for young women aged 18-25 in South Africa who had symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress. The program included individual and group counseling sessions, plus optional text reminders. The goal was to see if it could improve mental health and help women stick with their HIV prevention pills (PrEP). 116 women took part, and the study measured changes in mental health scores and PrEP use after 4 and 12 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Youth Friendship Bench SA (counseling sessions and support messages)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a practical way to improve mental health and HIV prevention in young women.
What could go wrong: This was a small, completed optimization study, not a large trial. Results may not apply to all settings or populations.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Depression depressive disorder mental disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DEPRESSION PRE EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Wits Reproductive Health Institute

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

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