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MindKind: A mixed-methods protocol for the feasibility of global digital mental health studies in young people

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Consortium, The MindKind 

Abstract

ns3:pns3:boldBackground: </ns3:bold>While an estimated 14-20% of young adults experience mental health conditions worldwide, the best strategies for prevention and management are not fully understood. The ubiquity of smartphone use among young people makes them excellent candidates for collecting data about lived experiences and their relationships to mental health. However, not much is known about the factors affecting young peoples’ willingness to share information about their mental health.</ns3:p>ns3:p </ns3:p>ns3:p ns3:boldObjective: </ns3:bold>We aim to understand the data governance and engagement strategies influencing young peoples’ (aged 16-24) participation in app-based studies of mental health. We hypothesize that the willingness to participate in research is impacted by their ability to be involved in how their data is collected, shared, and used.</ns3:p>ns3:p </ns3:p>ns3:p ns3:boldMethods: </ns3:bold>Here, we describe thens3:bold </ns3:bold>MindKind Study, which employs mixed methods to understand the feasibility of global, smartphone-based studies of youth mental health. A pilot 12-week app-based substudy will query participants’ willingness to engage with remote mental health studies. Participants will be randomized into one of four different data governance models designed to understand their preferences, as well as the acceptability of models that allow them more or less control over how their data are accessed and used. Enrolees will receive one of two different engagement strategies. A companion qualitative study will employ a deliberative democracy approach to examine the preferences, concerns and expectations of young people, with respect to remote mental health research. We also detail our engagement with young people as co-researchers in this study. This pilot study is being conducted in India, South Africa and the United Kingdom.</ns3:p>ns3:p </ns3:p>ns3:p ns3:boldConclusions: </ns3:bold>This study is expected to generate new insights into the feasibility of, and best practices for, remote smartphone-based studies of mental health in youth and represents an important step toward understanding which approaches could help people better manage their mental health.</ns3:p>

Description

Keywords

4203 Health Services and Systems, 42 Health Sciences, Mental Health, Pediatric, Behavioral and Social Science, 7.1 Individual care needs, 3.1 Primary prevention interventions to modify behaviours or promote wellbeing, Mental health, 3 Good Health and Well Being

Journal Title

Wellcome Open Research

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2398-502X
2398-502X

Volume Title

6

Publisher

F1000 Research Ltd