About the YMH Registry
You & Me Healthy (YMH) is a research registry, coordinated by the Duke Clinical Research Institute, that brings participants, community members, and clinicians together to improve public health across the United States.
Community engagement plays a vital role in research. We believe the more community members and researchers engage, the better we can tackle complex problems together. The YMH Registry aims to create a virtual community to develop and conduct research studies that flexibly respond to changing public health needs.
Anyone 2 years of age or older are welcome to join the YMH Registry at any time. Please note, participants ages 2-17 are asked to complete the minor registration form with a parent or legal guardian. Participants ages 18 or older are asked to complete the adult registration form. By joining the registry, participants will also be consenting to be contacted about future studies.
Joining the YMH Registry is easy and free! We will ask each person who joins the YMH Registry to provide demographic information, contact information, and consent to be contacted about future studies.
You will receive a thank you email confirming that you have successfully joined the YMH Registry. You will also receive next steps on how to create your Colectiv account.
As a YMH member, you will be able to:
- Answer short surveys and participate in YMH research
- Be the first to learn the results of YMH research
- Share your thoughts about key issues to help identify opportunities for future research
- Receive compensation for participating in select studies
No, you will not receive payment for joining the YMH Registry. However, once you become a YMH member, you will have the opportunity to participate in research initiatives that may offer compensation.
It is important to note, while some research initiatives will offer compensation, only participants who meet all of the study’s eligibility requirements will be compensated.
Yes. In order to be eligible to participate in the YMH's active studies, participants are required to join the registry first. Joining the registry is easy and free. To get started, click the button below.
YMH members may withdraw from the YMH Registry at any time and are not obligated to stay in the registry for a certain amount of time.
Studies
No. While we do encourage our members to participate in the research initiatives that matter most to them and their communities, participation in all YMH studies is 100% voluntary.
Yes. All YMH studies are voluntary and participants can exit a study at any time without having to withdraw from the YMH Registry.
Members of the YMH Registry study team work diligently and collaboratively with the YMH Community Advisory Board (CAB) comprised of community partners and program leaders across the United States. Our CAB members, as well as our YMH Registry members, play an important role in helping to identify public health issues, and designing meaningful research studies that address these issues.
Depending on the criteria and nature of each study, YMH members may participate in multiple studies at a time within the YMH Registry. However, when interested in participating in multiple studies, it is important to review the study’s criteria and/or requirements.
YMH members will receive exclusive invitations and newsletter announcements via email that will contain information and links to join YMH's active studies.
You & Me, Test and Treat Study
You & Me: Test and Treat (YMTT) was a program that helped increase access to free, rapid, at-home COVID testing for residents of eligible communities. We believe that timely testing can lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes for underserved populations. The YMTT study closed in fall 2024.
Goals were to provide:
- Rapid access to free COVID test kits
- Customized guidance on what to do after testing
- Helpful information for YMTT communities about the resources in available for treatment, if needed.
Residents in Merced County, California and Pitt County, North Carolina could participate in the You & Me: Test and
The YMTT communities were identified based on high local infection rates, public availability of accurate COVID tracking data, existing community relationships through the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations (RADx-UP)
Because COVID is still a threat to the health of many people around the world. Access to at-home tests varies, and the results are often not reported. Timely testing is still important because it helps people to seek treatment earlier, which can lead to better outcomes.
YMTT aimed to help educate selected communities on how to easily test for COVID and get treatment as needed. With the community’s help, we were able to collect results of at-home tests and report them back to the community to provide customized guidance about what to do after testing and improve our understanding of COVID infection rates.
YES Study
The YES (Youth Engaged Self-care) Study was a pilot study that aimed to connect youth and families to free or low-cost community-based programs, resources, and clinical care options that promote mental wellness and help reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. The YES study closed in summer 2024.
A pilot study is a small-scale research project conducted to test and evaluate the design of a study to help identify improvements before launching as a larger, full-scale research study.
You can also refer to our Youth Learning About Research Info Sheet on the YES Study Resources page to learn more about research studies, why the YES Study is important, and what you can expect as a study participant.
The YES Study was for kids 8-12 years old (or 3rd – 6th grade) who may have struggled with symptoms related to anxiety and/or depression. Participants lived in or near Durham County, NC or Miami-Dade County, FL and provided a signed and dated informed consent form.
Some YES study participants were invited to participate in a virtual Focus Group session to further discuss their and their child’s experience while participating in the YES Study. The aim of this focus group was to gain insights into views on parks and recreation resources and to pinpoint specific areas/topics that should be emphasized in future youth mental wellness and wellness activities.
YES Connectors are experts in Durham County, NC and Miami-Dade County, FL who help provide program and activity information and recommendations that might help improve mental wellness for your child at locations convenient for your family. Program and activity recommendations are based on your child’s interests whether this is sports, music, art, field trips, and more. Though the study is closed, you may still contact your local YES Connector!
Durham County, NC
DPR YES Connector Team
DPR-programs@durhamnc.gov | (919) 560-4270
Durham Parks and Recreation
Miami-Dade County, FL
Erin Enwright
Erin.Enwright@miamidade.gov | (305) 815-7391
Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces
MPOX Study
Mpox, formerly called Monkey Pox, is an infectious virus that can spread from person-to-person contact. Some symptoms of Mpox include a rash with blisters that can open and scab, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache/muscle aches, chills, and exhaustion.
The Mpox Study was a direct-to-participant study within the YMH Registry to better understand mpox and connect communities with information and available resources for treatment and prevention. Participants were asked to complete 3-4 surveys after signing up for the study.
After completing the initial surveys, participants may have received an invitation to complete a follow up survey 6 weeks later.
Participants were reimbursed for their participation and earned $25 by completing the surveys. All surveys were voluntary and participants could exit the study at any time.
Everyone who participated in the Mpox Study also became part of the You & Me Healthy Registry. However, participants can withdraw from the Registry at any time
The Mpox Study was open to anyone who was a YMH Registry member 18 years or older AND:
- Had been diagnosed with mpox OR
- Were experiencing related symptoms and may have/have had mpox OR
- Self-identify as being at risk for getting mpox or had close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed mpox
Privacy
Your privacy is a priority for You & Me Healthy. We’ll ask you to create a Colectiv account, where all of your study responses, results, and other information are stored within our secure online portal.
Data collected through the YMH Registry will be de-identified and may be shared with researchers and support teams working within the registry. Any data that is shared outside of the YMH Registry will be anonymous and will not be tied to your name, address, phone number, or any information that identifies you individually.