Using physical health apps to promote healthy lifestyles in youth mental healthcare: A nationwide perspective-gathering exercise of over 400 service users

Abstract

Digital technologies have presented a myriad of new solutions for improving cardiometabolic and behavioural health in the general population. However, the ways in which such advances could be applied to address the heightened health-risk behaviours and associated diseases in mental healthcare is unknown. To examine this, 492 young people with mental illness (YPMI) were recruited from 27 Primary Care and NHS mental healthcare sites across the UK, covering various diagnoses (excluding eating disorders). Participants were presented with four types of physical health apps, delivering: 1) Health Tracking; 2) Health Coaching; 3) Health Connections; and 4) Instructional Videos, and completed an online perspective-gathering exercise on the preferred utility, features, behavioural targets of these technologies, and barriers/facilitators to uptake. Results showed a high level of perceived utility across each of the four app types, with physical activity, sleep and diet emerging as preferred behavioural targets. Feedback on ideal app features indicated a need for integrated physical-mental health tracking, and expert-led instructional content/coaching, with less interested expressed towards sharing data with clinical teams. These findings can improve the development, future trials, and clinical implementation of digital lifestyle interventions in mental healthcare, through better accounting for the needs and preferences of YPMI.