Integration of Digital Tools Into Community Mental Health Care Settings That Serve Young People: Focus Group Study

Abstract

Background: Digital mental health tools have substantial potential to be easily integrated into people's lives and fundamentally impact public health. Such tools can extend the reach and maximize the impact of mental health interventions. Before implementing digital tools in new settings, it is critical to understand what is important to organizations and individuals who will implement and use these tools. Given that young people are highly familiar with technology and many mental health concerns emerge in childhood and adolescence, it is especially crucial to understand how digital tools can be integrated into settings that serve young people.Objective: This study aims to learn about considerations and perspectives of community behavioral health care providers on incorporating digital tools into their clinical care for children and adolescents. Methods: Data were analyzed from 5 focus groups conducted with clinicians (n=37) who work with young people at a large community service organization in the United States. This organization provides care to more than 27,000 people annually, most of whom are of low socioeconomic status. The transcripts were coded using thematic analysis.Results: Clinicians first provided insight into the digital tools they were currently using in their treatment sessions with young people, such as web-based videos and mood-tracking apps. They explained that their main goals in using these tools were to help young people build skills, facilitate learning, and monitor symptoms. Benefits were expressed, such as engagement of adolescents in treatment, along with potential challenges (eg, accessibility and limited content) and developmental considerations (eg, digital devices getting taken away as punishment). Clinicians discussed their desire for a centralized digital platform that securely connects the clinician, young person, and caregivers. Finally, they offered several considerations for integrating digital tools into mental health care, such as setting up expectations with clients and the importance of human support.Conclusions: Young people have unique considerations related to complex accessibility patterns and technology expectations that may not be observed when adults are the intended users of mental health technologies. Therefore, these findings provide critical insights to inform the development of future tools, specifically regarding connectivity, conditional restraints (eg, devices taken away as punishment and school restrictions), expectations of users from different generations, and the blended nature in which digital tools can support young people.

From formative design to service-ready therapeutic: A pragmatic approach to designing digital mental health interventions across domains

“… What are the determinants that may affect implementation of the DMHI and strategies that address those determinants? Community Engagement/Relationship Building ( Hayes, 2014 ; Le Dantec and Fox, 2015 ; Stiles-Shields et al, 2022 ) Volunteering Community meetings ( Harrington et al, 2019 ; Lu et al, 2023 ) Needs Elicitation Focus Groups ( Knapp et al, 2021 ; Kruzan et al, 2022a ; Lattie et al, 2020b ; Makosky Daley et al, 2010 ; Powell et al, 1996 ) Co-Design Workshops Interviews ( Berry et al, 2019 ; Muller and Kogan, 2010 ; Ryu et al, 2023 ) Observations ( Berry et al, 2017 ; Millen, 2000 ) Crowdsourcing ( Kornfield et al, 2022b ) Workflow design sessions ( Knapp et al, 2022 ; Lattie et al, 2021 ) Persona development ( Faily and Flechais, 2011 ; LeRouge et al, 2013 ) Resource and environment evaluation Interviews and/or surveys with service organizations Prototyping the product or service ( ideate , prototype , evaluate , and refine & develop ) What is the ideal format of, or platform for, the DMHI? What kinds of use pathways exist when using the DMHI?…”

“…Needs Elicitation Focus Groups ( Knapp et al, 2021 ; Kruzan et al, 2022a ; Lattie et al, 2020b ; Makosky Daley et al, 2010 ; Powell et al, 1996 ) Co-Design Workshops Interviews ( Berry et al, 2019 ; Muller and Kogan, 2010 ; Ryu et al, 2023 ) Observations ( Berry et al, 2017 ; Millen, 2000 ) Crowdsourcing ( Kornfield et al, 2022b ) Workflow design sessions ( Knapp et al, 2022 ; Lattie et al, 2021 ) …”

“…Focus Groups ( Knapp et al, 2021 ; Kruzan et al, 2022a ; Lattie et al, 2020b ; Makosky Daley et al, 2010 ; Powell et al, 1996 )…”

Evaluation of the Use of Digital Mental Health Platforms and Interventions: Scoping Review

“…Although the evidence synthesis found more of a focus on adults, there was a slightly higher number of targeted strategies for young people. However, there is a need for more effective qualitative strategies such as in designing and implementing youth-oriented tailored solutions [68] and implementing a centralized DMH platform to improve stakeholder accessibility [74]. The previous review of Spadaro et al [51] suggested overhauling the application of codesign, behavior theories, and clinical evaluation.…”

“…Then, it may be possible to translate findings and reevaluate (cost-)effective ways of targeting young people in mental health care and suicide prevention. It is already apparent from the preliminary evidence on serving young people that there are issues with DMH platform accessibility [74] and DMHI implementation [75]. Furthermore, there are issues in the need for parental consent/involvement, as well as higher uptake and engagement through frequent screening especially in adolescents [65].…”