Sub-task 6.2.2 Adapting, evaluating, and piloting a digital mental health tool for individual mental health promotion (Subtask lead: Iceland)

Summary

The aim of this task is to give people across Europe, with a special focus on young people and marginalized groups, access to a free, innovative, effective self-help tool, HappApp, based on their needs. HappApp is a mental health promoting app containing evidence-based interventions aimed at increasing psychological wellbeing and improving mental health literacy. The methods/exercises have also been shown to mitigate symptoms of depression and anxiety. The methods and interventions are grounded in positive psychology, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Their effectiveness in enhancing mental health has been documented in peer-reviewed research studies.

The app was developed in Iceland for individual use by the public but is now being re-designed with special emphasis on appealing to young people and marginalized groups with an added focus on combatting loneliness and isolation. Participating MS will come together in this subtask to collaborate on the redesign and adaptation of the app, involving young people and other potential user groups in the process through surveys, focus groups and user testing. Efforts will be made to reach vulnerable groups such as people with lived experiences and people in long-term unemployment to ensure the app is applicable to those groups as well. Lessons from WP 5.3 regarding processes, procedures and protocols for efficient co-working will be considered in the design process. The tool will be piloted in Iceland and participating countries after completion of the developmental phase.

Before MENTOR starts in the fall of 2024 Iceland plans to have published a small version of the app with core functionalities (a few interventions) in Icelandic and English with the aim of adding more interventions in collaboration with participating countries and through focus groups feedback. Participating countries will do workshops/focus groups and take part in developing the app further. In this way the app will be scaled up and developed in collaboration with participating countries and users/focus groups from each country with the aim to make it accessible to a wide range of people across Europe. Next step is doing a pilot test of the app in participating countries where they can choose if they test the English version of the app or translate it into their language. It is possible to offer the app in several languages.This is an individual-level intervention aimed at improving access to a diverse range of evidence-based methods to ensure opportunity for personalization of the tool. Research on the use of mental health apps has shown promising results with regard to improving mental health and the advantage of HappApp is that it is completely free of charge and designed by mental health professionals. By combining the efforts of MS through this JA, the app will be further developed, targeting a wider group in Europe. Our aim is to make the App available in the European region through standard App-Stores (Apple/Android) in English and in the languages of participating countries.