The project will utilize community-based participatory research (CBPR) to adapt the “UNI-FORM” app and online platform (https://uni-form.eu) to transgender women living in Brazil. The study specific aims are: (1) Refine and adapt the “UNI-FORM” mHealth intervention to Brazil (RISE), including MH screening and link to MH care; (2) Pilot test RISE to prevent violence, improve MH screening and treatment; and (3) Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of RISE. This R21 exploratory project proposes to recruit 200 TGW from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to study the implementation of RISE. With the assistance of an app programmer, the team aims to develop both active and passive elements to the use of the mobile application. Users will have the option to label safe spaces on a map, report incidents of violence or discrimination, or activate a panic button to alert contacts if they are currently in trouble. The app will also periodically remind the user to fill out mental health screeners and a suicide risk safety planning module, then use that information to present a list of relevant local mental health resources that may be useful for them. Focus groups, individual app testing, and in-depth interviews will provide useful information on the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.

• Principal Investigator: Kathryn Whettan and Sara LeGrand

• CHPIR Staff: Andrew Weinhold and Leonard Ng’eno

• Partners: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH, Canada), University of Toronto (Canada), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Brazil)

• Funder: NIH - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Project Dates: 11/1/03 - 1/31/17