Apprentices’ Attitudes Toward Using a Mental Health Mobile App to Support Healthy Coping: Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Background Apprenticeships are a common pathway for young people transitioning into the workforce. Apprentices often face many employment-related challenges and have high levels of psychological distress, drug and alcohol use, and suicidal ideation. Little is known about the attitudes of apprentices toward using smartphone apps to support their mental health and the content that would engage them. Objective This study explored (1) apprentices’ interest in using an app to support their mental health and (2) the healthy coping strategies used to manage their mental well-being in the face of workplace challenges, in order to inform future app content. Methods A mixed methods study was conducted with 54 apprentices (50/54 male, 93%) with a mean age of 22.7 (SD 5.7) years. Participants completed a survey on preferred ways of using an app to support mental health. Across 8 focus groups, participants were asked to describe healthy strategies they used to cope with occupational stressors. Results Only 11% (6/54) of participants currently used a well-being app, but there was high interest in using an app to support their friends (47/54 participants, 87%) and develop self-help strategies to manage or prevent mental health issues (42/54 participants, 78%). Four major types of coping behaviors were identified: (1) social connection for disclosure, advice, and socializing; (2) pleasurable activities, such as engaging in hobbies, time-outs, and developing work-life separation; (3) cognitive approaches, including defusing from thoughts and cognitive reframing; and (4) self-care approaches, including exercise, a healthy diet, and getting adequate sleep. Conclusions There is interest among apprentices to use an app with a positive well-being focus that helps them to develop self-management skills and support their friends. Apprentices utilized a range of healthy behaviors to cope with workplace stressors that can be incorporated into mental health apps to improve uptake and engagement. However, many of the preferred coping strategies identified are not those focused on by currently available apps, indicating the need for more targeted digital interventions for this group.

Mental Health, Alcohol Use, Workplace Bullying and Attitude toward Mental Health Help-Seeking in French Apprentices

“…Most searched topics were stress management, sleep problems, anxiety and depression, engagement in work and studies, risks concerning substance use and bullying. Consistent with previous research (Choi et al, 2022), there was a high lev-A. Although several limitations to the study should be considered when reviewing the results, this study has provided some rich quantitative information that contributes to the understanding of workplace stressors experienced by French apprentices, their impact on apprentices' mental health and alcohol use as well as apprentices' attitudes toward seeking help and toward using an app to support their mental health in order to inform app content.…”

“…Findings suggest that digital health intervention that focus on positive well-being and provide short, action-based activities incorporating mindfulness practice and cognitive behavioural therapy (e.g. behavioral activation through value-driven activities and coping skills) may be seen as more relevant and acceptable among apprentices (Choi et al 2022;Deady et al, 2020a).…”

“…Furthermore, apprentices are exposed to workplace situations that negatively impact their mental health and well-being. Indeed, apprentices described poor working conditions including long working days, financial stress due to low wages, job insecurity, unrealistic expectations, workplace hierarchies and bullying as the main challenges to their mental health (Choi et al, 2022;Einboden et al, 2021). Despite these considerations, there is a lack of research on the mental health of apprentices and their help-seeking behaviors.…”

“…One of the rare studies that have addressed this issue revealed interesting and sometimes unexpected findings, suggesting that further investigations are needed to better understand apprentices' needs in prevention and response to mental health problems. Choi et al (2022) revealed that coping strategies preferred by apprentices are not those targeted by currently available apps. Although apps often focused on negative issues related to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety (e.g., Leech et al (2021)), apprentices are calling for positive well-being, behavioural activation and mindfulness-based content.…”

“…Bullying in apprentices was significantly associated with greater psychological distress and substance use (e.g., Ross et al (2021)). Fortunately, exploring apprentices' attitude toward mental health help-seeking revealed promising directions to design efficient interventions in this population (Choi et al, 2022). However, one may ask whether these findings apply for French apprentices.…”