JoyPop App + Usual Care for Mental Health in Indigenous Youth

Overseen By Aislin R Mushquash, Ph.D.

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Lakehead University

Disqualifiers: Non-Indigenous, Not on wait-list, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

110 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a new method to support Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario who are waiting for mental health services. It aims to determine if a mobile app called JoyPop can help young people manage their emotions better while awaiting care. Participants will either use the app with regular check-ins or receive the usual support without the app. The trial seeks Indigenous youth aged 12-17 who are on a wait-list for mental health services and can attend an orientation session. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative solutions for mental health support.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on using an app alongside usual care, so you may not need to change your current medication routine.

What prior data suggests that the JoyPop app is safe for Indigenous youth?

Research has shown that the JoyPop app is generally safe for users. Studies have found that it helps people manage emotions and build resilience without causing harm. One study demonstrated that the app improved students' mental health by reducing depression and enhancing emotional management. No reports of serious side effects have emerged from using the app. Users have responded positively, indicating it is both safe and easy to use. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the JoyPop app because it offers a new digital approach to supporting mental health in Indigenous youth. Unlike traditional treatments that might rely on in-person therapy or medication, the JoyPop app provides a self-guided, accessible platform that youth can use anytime, anywhere. This app is designed to empower users with tools and exercises tailored to improve resilience and coping skills. By integrating technology with mental health care, the JoyPop app aims to bridge gaps in accessibility and provide culturally sensitive support for Indigenous communities.

What evidence suggests that the JoyPop app is effective for improving mental health in Indigenous youth?

Research shows that the JoyPop app helps young people manage their emotions, a challenge often faced by those with mental health issues. Studies have found that it boosts resilience and aids in emotional control, both crucial for mental well-being. In this trial, some participants will access the JoyPop app alongside usual care, while others will follow usual practice without the app initially. Indigenous youth who used the app reported improved emotional skills and resilience. The JoyPop app aims to support young people while they wait for more formal mental health services. These early findings suggest that the app could be a useful tool for Indigenous youth facing mental health challenges. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Aislin R Mushquash, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Lakehead University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Indigenous youth aged 12-17 in Northwestern Ontario who are on the wait-list for mental health services at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care. Participants must be able to attend an orientation and need access to an iOS device, which can be provided.

Inclusion Criteria

I am an Indigenous youth aged 12-17 waiting for mental health services at Dilico.

Participants will need access to an iOS device (e.g., iPhone, iPad) in order to download the JoyPop app. Refurbished iPhones containing just the JoyPop app will be provided to participants to use for the duration of the trial if they do not have access to their own.

Eligible youth will also need to be available to attend a virtual or in-person orientation session

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Usual Practice

Participants will be monitored through existing wait-list practices which involve regular phone calls to check in and assess functioning

4 weeks

Regular phone calls

Usual Practice + JoyPop

Participants will be monitored through existing wait-list practices and will receive access to the JoyPop app

4 weeks

Regular phone calls

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in emotion regulation and mental health difficulties after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• JoyPop

Trial Overview The trial is testing a mobile app called JoyPop, designed to help with emotion regulation, against usual practices while waiting for mental health services. It's a two-arm randomized controlled trial assessing the app's effectiveness.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Usual Practice + JoyPop Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be monitored through the existing wait-list practices, which involve regular phone calls to check in and assess functioning, and will receive access to the JoyPop app for 4 weeks.

Group II: Usual Practice Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will be monitored through existing wait-list practices which involve regular phone calls to check in and assess functioning. After 4 weeks in the Usual Practice condition, participants will be offered access to the JoyPop app.

JoyPop is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as JoyPop for:

• Emotion regulation difficulties
• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Lakehead University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

29

Recruited

3,900+

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

220+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Digital health solutions for Indigenous mental well-being include remote access to specialists, local capacity building, and patient-directed interventions, with telemental health showing the strongest evidence of effectiveness.

Despite the promise of these digital solutions, there is limited evidence specifically in Indigenous contexts, highlighting the need for further research and adherence to best practices that respect Indigenous history and ideologies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Digital Health Solutions for Indigenous Mental Well-Being. Hensel, JM., Ellard, K., Koltek, M., et al.[2020]

The JoyPop™ mobile app was well-received by Indigenous youth, with all five participants using it daily and finding it easy to navigate, indicating strong acceptability and feasibility for mental wellness support.

Participants highlighted the app's cultural resonance, particularly appreciating features like water sounds and the alignment with the 'Good Mind' perspective, while suggesting enhancements such as more gaming options and Indigenous design elements for better cultural appropriateness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the feasibility of a mental health application (JoyPopTM) for Indigenous youth. Au-Yeung, A., Marfatia, D., Beers, K., et al.[2023]

The JoyPop™ mobile app received positive feedback from 19 adult community members of Six Nations of the Grand River, indicating its potential relevance and appropriateness for Indigenous youth mental wellness.

Participants suggested adaptations to the app, such as incorporating more cultural elements and localized resources, to better meet the specific needs of SN youth before further research and implementation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the relevance of a psychology-based resilience app (JoyPop™) for Indigenous youth. Kim, K., Au-Yeung, A., Dagher, D., et al.[2023]

The study involved eight Indigenous adolescents who participated in Design Circles to share their experiences and preferences for a mental health screening app, emphasizing the importance of integrating Indigenous perspectives in digital health tools.

Using a Two-Eyed Seeing approach, the research highlighted that collective storytelling and user involvement are crucial for designing eMental health apps that effectively meet the needs of Indigenous youth in primary care settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Application of Two-Eyed Seeing in Adolescent Mental Health to Bridge Design Thinking and Indigenous Collective Storytelling. Sam, J., Richardson, CG., Currie, LM.[2023]

The ibobbly mobile app, designed for Indigenous youth in remote Australia, significantly reduced symptoms of depression and psychological distress, as measured by the PHQ-9 and K10 scales, compared to a waitlist group.

While the app did not show significant reductions in suicidal ideation or impulsivity, it demonstrates potential as a feasible self-help tool for improving mental health in underserved communities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ibobbly mobile health intervention for suicide prevention in Australian Indigenous youth: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Tighe, J., Shand, F., Ridani, R., et al.[2022]

The JoyPop™ app was well-received by both youth (6 participants aged 12-17) and mental health service providers (7 participants aged 32-60), with users finding it easy to learn and use, and beneficial for accessing coping skills and improving mental health outcomes.

Both groups expressed positive feelings about the app's integration into traditional mental health services, although they also raised concerns about mobile health apps in general and provided suggestions for improvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Female youth and mental health service providers' perspectives on the JoyPop™ app: a qualitative study. Malik, I., Perez, A., Toombs, E., et al.[2023]

AIMhi-Y App was co-designed with 45 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, highlighting their need for culturally relevant mental health resources to address psychological distress and barriers to help-seeking.

Participants identified key app features such as a strengths-based approach, relatable content, and an engaging interface, indicating that a well-designed mental health app could enhance mental health literacy and provide accessible support for young people.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Drafting the Aboriginal and Islander Mental Health Initiative for Youth (AIMhi-Y) App: Results of a formative mixed methods study. Povey, J., Sweet, M., Nagel, T., et al.[2022]

A culturally appropriate mental health treatment model for Indigenous Australians with depression should prioritize Indigenous autonomy, identity, and wellbeing, as identified through focus groups with 24 participants and interviews with 2 Elders.

Effective treatment approaches must integrate Indigenous concepts of social and emotional wellbeing alongside traditional clinical methods, emphasizing the importance of community-led design and delivery in public health initiatives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A community-led design for an Indigenous Model of Mental Health Care for Indigenous people with depressive disorders. Farah Nasir, B., Brennan-Olsen, S., Gill, NS., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10588183/

Exploring the feasibility of a mental health application ... The purpose of the current study was to explore the accessibility and feasibility of the JoyPop™ app with Indigenous youth living on reserve.

2. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1503428/full

Acceptance of a mental health app (JoyPop TM ) for ... The JoyPopTM app was designed to improve youth resilience and emotion regulation. The JoyPopTM app is associated with improved student MH, but ...

3. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e64745/PDF

to 25-Year-Old Indigenous Youth With the JoyPop Mobile ... Objective: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the JoyPop app in increasing emotion regulation skills for ...

4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39883939/

to 25-Year-Old Indigenous Youth With the JoyPop Mobile ... Conclusions: This study will assess whether the JoyPop app is effective for Indigenous transitional-aged youth on a waitlist for mental health ...

5. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06239545

JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App With Transitional-Aged ... Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, the primary objective is to determine the effectiveness of the JoyPop app in improving emotion regulation ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11367905/

Promoting mental health and wellbeing among post ... The first objective of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of the JoyPop™ app in improving post-secondary students' emotion ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/359402191_Indigenous_youth_mental_wellness_and_the_adaptation_of_the_JoyPop_TM_app

Indigenous youth mental wellness and the adaptation of ... The JoyPop TM app is a mobile mental health tool, shown to reduce depression and increase emotions management. We conducted 19 consultations (32 ...