Digital Mental Health Interventions

2021 ◽  
pp. 180-210
Author(s):  
Christopher R Shelton ◽  
Anitgoni Kotsiou ◽  
Melanie D. Hetzel-Riggin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Barriers To Access ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Virtual And Augmented Reality

This chapter will provide a brief background on the need for digital mental health interventions given the high rates of mental health issues and the barriers to access quality care. Three main types of digital mental health interventions (internet-based interventions [IBIs], smartphone apps, and virtual and augmented reality [VR and AR, respectively]) will be discussed, followed by a consideration of the ethical and logistical issues surrounding digital mental health interventions. The chapter will then address issues related to content and design, user engagement, user contact, and formatting of the interventions. Finally, the chapter will end with a discussion of future directions.

scholarly journals The Use of Social Networking Sites in Mental Health Interventions for Young People: Systematic Review (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad Ridout ◽  
Andrew Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Youth Mental Health ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

BACKGROUND The onset of mental health problems peaks between adolescence and young adulthood; however, young people face barriers to treatment and are often reluctant to seek professional help. Many are instead seeking support and information regarding their mental health via the Web, especially via social networking sites (SNSs), and hence, there is a promising opportunity to use SNSs to deliver or integrate with youth-focused online mental health interventions. Previous reviews have evaluated the effectiveness of SNSs for specific disorders in young people; however, none of the reviews have covered the breadth of SNS–based youth mental health interventions available across all mental health issues. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to systematically identify available evidence regarding the use of SNS–based interventions to support the mental health of young people aged up to 25 years, to evaluate their effectiveness, suitability, and safety, and identify gaps and opportunities for future research. METHODS The PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings terms and exploded keywords and phrases. Retrieved abstracts (n=974) were double screened, yielding 235 articles for screening at the full-text level. Of these, 9 articles met the review inclusion criteria. Given the small number of studies, and the variety of outcome measures used, a quantitative meta-analysis was not possible. RESULTS The 9 articles (quantitative studies, qualitative studies, and descriptions of the iterative design process) covered 5 separate interventions. Of the 5 interventions, 2 interventions used purpose-built platforms based on the moderated online social therapy (MOST) model, 2 used Facebook, and 1 evaluated a purpose-built mobile app. The 2 MOST interventions targeted specific mental health issues (depression and psychosis), whereas the others focused on improving mental health literacy, social support, and general well-being. Only 3 quantitative studies were identified, and all used a pre-post design (without a control group) to establish proof of concept. Of the outcome variables assessed, there were significant improvements in mental health knowledge and number of depressive symptoms but no improvement in anxiety or psychosis symptoms. Acceptability of and engagement with the SNS platforms were generally high, as were perceptions of usefulness and safety. Moderation by clinical experts was identified as a key component of the more successful interventions. When offered a choice, users showed a preference for mobile apps over Web-based interfaces. CONCLUSIONS The evidence reviewed suggests young people find SNS–based interventions highly usable, engaging, and supportive. However, future studies need to address the current lack of high-quality evidence for their efficacy in reducing mental health symptoms. Given young people are already turning to SNSs to engage in knowledge seeking and peer-to-peer support, SNS–based youth mental health interventions provide an opportunity to address some of the barriers young people face in accessing qualified mental health support and information.

scholarly journals Psychological and social interventions for mental health issues and disorders in Southeast Asia: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Maddock ◽  
Carolyn Blair ◽  
Nil Ean ◽  
Paul Best
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Abstract Background Mental health issues and disorders are major public health challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries in Southeast Asia, where chronic shortages in mental health services and human resources exist. The development of effective and accessible mental health systems in Southeast Asia will require evidence based psychological and social interventions. This systematic review provides a narrative synthesis of the evidence on the effectiveness of such interventions for mental health issues and disorders in Southeast Asia. Methods A comprehensive literature search of 7 electronic databases (PsycINFO, Medline (Ovid), Cochrane library, EMBASE, SCOPUS, APA PsycArticles, and Social Care Online) was undertaken. Results Thirty two studies employing RCT designs to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of psychological and social mental health interventions on a number of different mental health outcomes were included in this review. The disparate intervention programmes reviewed were categorised as: lay delivered, yoga, aerobic and/or meditation based, cognitive behavioural therapy oriented, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing based (EMDR), health worker delivered, and hybrid programmes. The majority of the studies included in this review were of low to moderate quality due to the variability in the quality of the study design. The highest quality, and most promising evidence came from the evaluations of lay delivered interventions. This evidence demonstrates the feasibility and potential sustainability of implementing such interventions in resource constrained contexts. Conclusions The review findings indicate that a disparate array of mental health interventions can be implemented effectively in a range of Southeast Asian mental health and health settings. There is a clear need for significantly more research however, through higher quality and larger scale RCTs before it will be known more definitively, if these interventions are effective, and for whom they are most effective in different Southeast Asian contexts.

scholarly journals A Process Evaluation of a Web-Based Mental Health Portal (WalkAlong) Using Google Analytics

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. e50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Jae Song ◽  
John Ward ◽  
Fiona Choi ◽  
Mohammadali Nikoo ◽  
Anastasia Frank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Improvement Strategy ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Background Despite the increasing amount of research on Web-based mental health interventions with proven efficacy, high attrition rates decrease their effectiveness. Continued process evaluations should be performed to maximize the target population’s engagement. Google Analytics has been used to evaluate various health-related Web-based programs and may also be useful for Web-based mental health programs. Objective The objective of our study was to evaluate WalkAlong.ca, a youth-oriented mental health web-portal, using Google Analytics to inform the improvement strategy for the platform and to demonstrate the use of Google Analytics as a tool for process evaluation of Web-based mental health interventions. Methods Google Analytics was used to monitor user activity during WalkAlong’s first year of operation (Nov 13, 2013-Nov 13, 2014). Selected Google Analytic variables were overall website engagement including pages visited per session, utilization rate of specific features, and user access mode and location. Results The results included data from 3076 users viewing 29,299 pages. Users spent less average time on Mindsteps (0 minute 35 seconds) and self-exercises (1 minute 08 seconds), which are important self-help tools, compared with that on the Screener tool (3 minutes 4 seconds). Of all visitors, 82.3% (4378/5318) were desktop users, followed by 12.7 % (677/5318) mobile phone and 5.0% (263/5318) tablet users. Both direct traffic (access via URL) and referrals by email had more than 7 pages viewed per session and longer than average time of 6 minutes per session. The majority of users (67%) accessed the platform from Canada. Conclusions Engagement and feature utilization rates are higher among people who receive personal invitations to visit the site. Low utilization rates with specific features offer a starting place for further exploration of users in order to identify the root cause. The data provided by Google Analytics, although informative, can be supplemented by other evaluation methods (ie, qualitative methods) in order to better determine the modifications required to improve user engagement. Google Analytics can play a vital role in highlighting the preferences of those using Web-based mental health tools.

Pediatric Mental Health: A Compendium of AAP Clinical Practice Guidelines and Policies

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Clinical Practice Guidelines ◽  
Practice Guidelines ◽  
Quality Care ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Pediatric Mental Health

This new compendium is your source for trustworthy recommendations on quality care of children and adolescents with mental health issues. https://shop.aap.org/mental-health-a-compendium-of-aap-clinical-practice-guidelines-and-policies-paperback/

scholarly journals Engagement in Digital Mental Health Interventions: Can Monetary Incentives Help?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliane M. Boucher ◽  
Haley E. Ward ◽  
Amelia C. Mounts ◽  
Acacia C. Parks
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Monetary Incentives ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Digital Interventions ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Digital mental health interventions (DMHI) are scalable and cost-effective strategies for increasing access to mental health care; however, dropout rates associated with digital interventions are high, particularly for open-access digital interventions. While some studies have focused on predictors of dropout from digital mental health programs, few studies have focused on engagement features that might improve engagement. In this perspective article, we discuss whether monetary incentives (MI) are one avenue to increasing user engagement in DMHI. We begin by reviewing the literature on the effects of MI for behavior change in health domains (e.g., dietary behaviors, substance use, and medication adherence). Then, drawing on a pilot study we conducted to test the effects of different levels of MI on usage and improvement in subjective well-being among users of a DMHI (Happify), we discuss the potential applications of MI for DMHI, the potential drawbacks of financial incentives in this context, and open questions for future research.

scholarly journals A Process Evaluation of a Web-Based Mental Health Portal (WalkAlong) Using Google Analytics (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Jae Song ◽  
John Ward ◽  
Fiona Choi ◽  
Mohammadali Nikoo ◽  
Anastasia Frank ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Utilization Rate ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Improvement Strategy ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

BACKGROUND Despite the increasing amount of research on Web-based mental health interventions with proven efficacy, high attrition rates decrease their effectiveness. Continued process evaluations should be performed to maximize the target population’s engagement. Google Analytics has been used to evaluate various health-related Web-based programs and may also be useful for Web-based mental health programs. OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to evaluate WalkAlong.ca, a youth-oriented mental health web-portal, using Google Analytics to inform the improvement strategy for the platform and to demonstrate the use of Google Analytics as a tool for process evaluation of Web-based mental health interventions. METHODS Google Analytics was used to monitor user activity during WalkAlong’s first year of operation (Nov 13, 2013-Nov 13, 2014). Selected Google Analytic variables were overall website engagement including pages visited per session, utilization rate of specific features, and user access mode and location. RESULTS The results included data from 3076 users viewing 29,299 pages. Users spent less average time on Mindsteps (0 minute 35 seconds) and self-exercises (1 minute 08 seconds), which are important self-help tools, compared with that on the Screener tool (3 minutes 4 seconds). Of all visitors, 82.3% (4378/5318) were desktop users, followed by 12.7 % (677/5318) mobile phone and 5.0% (263/5318) tablet users. Both direct traffic (access via URL) and referrals by email had more than 7 pages viewed per session and longer than average time of 6 minutes per session. The majority of users (67%) accessed the platform from Canada. CONCLUSIONS Engagement and feature utilization rates are higher among people who receive personal invitations to visit the site. Low utilization rates with specific features offer a starting place for further exploration of users in order to identify the root cause. The data provided by Google Analytics, although informative, can be supplemented by other evaluation methods (ie, qualitative methods) in order to better determine the modifications required to improve user engagement. Google Analytics can play a vital role in highlighting the preferences of those using Web-based mental health tools.

Crossing Borders

2021 ◽  
pp. 195-213
Author(s):  
Burcu Ozturk ◽  
Asli Cennet Yalim ◽  
Sinem Toraman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
High Commissioner ◽  
The World ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender

People around the world are moving from their home countries to other destinations to find safety for various reasons such as war, poverty, and violence. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 70.8 million people had been forced to move from their home countries by the end of 2018 and half of the world's displaced population is women. This chapter explores the challenges that refugee and asylum-seeker women experience, including mental health issues and sexual and gender-based violence. The authors systematically reviewed relevant studies that have been published in peer-reviewed journals that were from January 2000 through January 2020. Six articles met the inclusion criteria. The authors critically explored and analyzed these six articles, and the findings were discussed under the subjects of mental health and gender-based issues. Finally, recommendations were made to determine future directions for practice, policy, and research.

scholarly journals Stakeholder perspectives on evidence for digital mental health interventions: Implications for accreditation systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 205520761987806
Author(s):  
Philip J Batterham ◽  
Alison L Calear ◽  
Bridianne O’Dea ◽  
Mark E Larsen ◽  
David J Kavanagh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
User Engagement ◽  
Digital Interventions ◽  
Mental Health Interventions

Background Digital mental health interventions can be effective for treating mental health problems, but uptake by consumers and clinicians is not optimal. The lack of an accreditation pathway for digital mental health interventions is a barrier to their uptake among clinicians and consumers. However, there are a number of factors that may contribute to whether a digital intervention is suitable for recommendation to the public. The aim of this study was to identify the types of evidence that would support the accreditation of digital interventions. Method An expert workshop was convened, including researcher, clinician, consumer (people with lived experience of a mental health condition) and policymaker representatives. Results Existing methods for assessing the evidence for digital mental health interventions were discussed by the stakeholders present at the workshop. Empirical evidence from randomised controlled trials was identified as a key component for evaluating digital interventions. However, information on the safety of users, data security, user ratings, and fidelity to clinical guidelines, along with data from routine care including adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes, were also identified as important considerations when evaluating an intervention. There are considerable challenges in weighing the evidence for a digital mental health intervention. Conclusions Empirical evidence should be the cornerstone of any accreditation system to identify appropriate digital mental health interventions. However, robust accreditation systems should also account for program and user safety, user engagement and experience, and fidelity to clinical treatment guidelines.

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