Abstract
BackgroundThe use of new technologies and methodologies in young people’s mental health research is needed to allow more frequent and reliable sampling. Mobile applications and e-platforms create exciting potential for the collection of large-scale cohort data, however there are various feasibility and ethical issues to consider. Consultation with young people is needed to inform the research agenda, and ensure these technologies are engaging, useful and safe. This article describes the process of Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) with a sample of young people in London, with the aim of i) informing the development of a mood-monitoring e-platform, and ii) providing feedback and advice for researchers developing web-based technologies in the mental health field.MethodsA total of 26 young people were consulted across four advisory group co-design sessions. All young people were students enrolled at one of the participating London based sixth form colleges, and voluntarily attended a workshop session. Audio recordings of the sessions were analysed using a thematic analysis framework.ResultsWe found that young people were engaged in discussions around mobile health technologies and valued the opportunity to collaborate throughout the early stages of the development process The advisory groups identified key considerations for future web-development work to encourage engagement and prolonged use, including, the promotion of trust and transparency, consideration of accessibility, provision of support, production of engaging and functional design, and acknowledgment of specific contextual influences surrounding young people’s wellbeing.ConclusionsInvolving young people in the development process of e-health technologies contributes to optimising the successful adoption and prolonged usage of new methodologies. The thematic map and informant examples can be used to guide researchers interested in developing web-based technologies in the mental health field and will be directly applicable to the development of a mood-monitoring e-platform.
Highlights
The use of new technologies and methodologies in young people’s mental health research is needed to allow more frequent and reliable sampling
Most adult mental health challenges appear before the age of 18, yet there is still a lack of understanding around the factors influencing their development
Such methods would allow researchers and clinicians to gain a more detailed understanding of daily mood changes as well as how daily experiences can impact on mood and the overall mental health of young people
Summary
The use of new technologies and methodologies in young people’s mental health research is needed to allow more frequent and reliable sampling. This article describes the process of Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) with a sample of young people in London, with the aim of i) informing the development of a mood-monitoring e-platform, and ii) providing feedback and advice for researchers developing web-based technologies in the mental health field. Mental health problems in children and adolescents are common, with around 1 in 7 young people in the UK presenting with a diagnosable disorder [1]. With schools becoming increasingly involved in the detection and support of mental ill-health, there is an additional need for researchers and clinical services to support routine collection of health data at school level [11]. There is appetite to develop more effective methods for collecting and interpreting cohort data to facilitate informed interventions for the benefit of schools, researchers and clinical services [12]
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