Kylie Dingwall|Josie Povey|Michelle Sweet|Jaylene Friel|Fiona Shand|Nickolai Titov|Julia Wormer|Tamoor Mirza|Tricia Nagel
Feasibility and Acceptability of the Aboriginal and Islander Mental Health Initiative for Youth App: Nonrandomized Pilot With First Nations Young People
Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|Charles Darwin University|Menzies School of Health Research|Black Dog Institute|UNSW Sydney|Macquarie University|Menzies School of Health Research|Charles Darwin University
despite young first nations australians typically healthy happy connected family culture high rates emotional distress suicide selfharm also observed differing worldviews service providers first nations young people regarding illness treatment practices language differences culturally inappropriate service models geographical remoteness stigma inhibit access appropriate mental health support mental health treatments delivered digitally digital mental health dmh offer flexible access evidencebased nonstigmatizing lowcost treatment early intervention broad scale rapidly growing use acceptance technologies among young first nations peoplethe objective assess feasibility acceptability use newly developed aboriginal islander mental health initiative youth aimhiy app determine feasibility study procedures preparation future assessments effectivenessthis nonrandomized prepost study using mixed methods first nations young people aged 1225 years provided consent parental consent appropriate possessed ability navigate simple app basic english literacy included researchers conducted one facetoface 20minute session participants introduce orient aimhiy app app integrates culturally adapted lowintensity cognitive behavioral therapy cbt psychoeducation mindfulnessbased activities participants received supportive text messages weekly throughout 4week intervention period completed assessments psychological distress depression anxiety substance misuse helpseeking service use parentrated strengths difficulties baseline 4 weeks qualitative interviews rating scales completed 4 weeks gain feedback subjective experience look style content overall rating checkins involvement study app use data collectedthirty young people 17 males 13 females aged 12 18 mean 140 sd 155 years assessed baseline 4 weeks repeated measures 2tailed tests showed improvements wellbeing measures statistically clinically significant psychological distress kessler psychological distress scale 10item depressive symptoms patient health questionnaire 2item participants spent average 37 minutes app app rated positively mean ratings 4 5 points scales 15 participants reported found app easy use culturally relevant useful feasibility study demonstrated 62 recruitment rate 90 retention rate high study acceptability ratingsthis study supports earlier research suggesting dmh apps appropriately designed target populations feasible acceptable means lowering symptoms mental health disorders among first nations youth