JoyPop App for Youth Mental Health

Overseen By Aislin R Mushquash, Ph.D.

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Lakehead University

Disqualifiers: Under 12, Over 17, 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: 2

Duration: 4 weeks

110 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Youth in Canada are in need of novel, innovative approaches to support their mental health and wellbeing. Within this age group, research suggests rates of several mental health difficulties and related hospitalizations have increased over recent decades. These challenges are exacerbated in rural communities, such as in Northwestern Ontario, where youth access mental health services less frequently and face longer wait times than those in more urban areas. Such limited access and extended waits can exacerbate symptoms, prolong distress, and increase the risk for adverse outcomes. In partnership with St. Joseph Care Group and Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, the investigators are evaluating the impact of a mental health app (JoyPop) as a tool for youth waiting for mental health services. The JoyPop app was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a fundamental difficulty for youth presenting with mental health challenges and an ability still undergoing maturation during this developmental period. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the app compared to usual practice while youth aged 12-17 are waiting for mental health services.

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 the JoyPop app to support mental health, so you may not need to change your medication routine.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App, JoyPop?

The JoyPop app has shown promise in improving emotion regulation and mental health symptoms among youth, according to a study that highlights its potential as a supportive tool in mental health services. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the JoyPop app safe for use in youth mental health?

The available research on the JoyPop app focuses on its acceptance and feasibility, but does not provide specific safety data. However, it is generally considered a promising tool for improving mental health and resilience in youth. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

How is the JoyPop app treatment different from other mental health treatments for youth?

The JoyPop app is unique because it is a mobile health app designed to improve resilience and emotional regulation in youth, making it accessible and scalable, especially in areas with limited traditional mental health services. ^{1 5 6 9 10}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Canadian youth aged 12-17 who are experiencing difficulties with emotion regulation, anxiety, depression, or stress. It's especially aimed at those in rural areas with limited access to mental health services and long wait times. Participants must be waiting for mental health services.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 12-17 years old and waiting for mental health services at St. Joseph's or Thunder Bay.

I can attend an orientation session, either online or in person.

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.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive access to the JoyPop app for 4 weeks while being monitored through existing wait-list practices

4 weeks

Baseline, 2 weeks (mid), 4 weeks (post)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in emotion regulation and other mental health outcomes after the treatment phase

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App

Trial Overview The trial is testing the JoyPop mobile app as a tool to help manage emotions while waiting for professional mental health support. The study will compare the effectiveness of using JoyPop alongside usual practices versus usual practices alone in a randomized controlled setup.

Participant Groups

Group I: Usual Practice + JoyPop Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be monitored through the existing wait-list practices, 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. After 4 weeks in the Usual Practice condition, participants will be offered access to the JoyPop app.

JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

Approved in Canada as JoyPop for:

• Stress
• Emotional Processing
• Depression

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Lakehead University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

29

Recruited

3,900+

Findings from Research

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]

Mobile health (mHealth) interventions for children with psychiatric disorders are generally accepted and liked by patients, indicating good feasibility for clinical use.

However, in the two randomized controlled trials that assessed effectiveness, no statistically significant differences in clinical outcomes were found, likely due to small sample sizes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile Health Interventions for Psychiatric Conditions in Children: A Scoping Review. Archangeli, C., Marti, FA., Wobga-Pasiah, EA., et al.[2022]

POD Adventures is a blended problem-solving game-based intervention designed for adolescents in India, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and user-testing with 126 participants, including students and service providers.

The intervention aims to provide accessible mental health support through a gamified app, emphasizing relatability and interactivity, and will be evaluated in a randomized controlled trial to assess its effectiveness in low-resource school settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design and Development of the "POD Adventures" Smartphone Game: A Blended Problem-Solving Intervention for Adolescent Mental Health in India. Gonsalves, PP., Hodgson, ES., Kumar, A., et al.[2023]

A pilot study involving 22 adolescents and their parents showed that integrating a mobile app with family-focused therapy (FFT) led to significant improvements in depression scores over 27 weeks, indicating the potential efficacy of this approach.

Participants engaged with the app, completing 46%-65% of assessments and skill practices, and reported reduced parental criticism, suggesting that mobile apps can enhance treatment engagement and provide valuable feedback for clinicians.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and Open Trial of a Technology-Enhanced Family Intervention for Adolescents at Risk for Mood Disorders. Miklowitz, DJ., Weintraub, MJ., Posta, F., et al.[2022]

Both youth and mental health providers agree that mobile health apps, particularly behavior-tracking apps, could enhance psychotherapy by making it more enjoyable and accessible.

Concerns were raised about the potential burden of using these apps, particularly regarding negative emotions and user fatigue, highlighting the need for user-friendly features to encourage long-term engagement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Youth and Provider Perspectives on Behavior-Tracking Mobile Apps: Qualitative Analysis. Armstrong, CC., Odukoya, EJ., Sundaramurthy, K., et al.[2021]

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]

Out of 3806 mental health apps identified, only 15 (0.39%) met the criteria for targeting anxiety, depression, or PTSD in youth, indicating a significant lack of quality options available for young users.

The overall quality of the eligible apps was moderate, with a mean score of 3.59 on the Mobile App Rating Scale, and only one app had been evaluated in a randomized controlled trial, highlighting the need for more rigorous scientific evaluation and development of mental health apps.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile-based interventions for common mental disorders in youth: a systematic evaluation of pediatric health apps. Domhardt, M., Messner, EM., Eder, AS., et al.[2021]

The Tabatha-YYC chatbot was developed with input from a Youth Advisory Board and tested with 20 participants, showing it to be an acceptable tool for linking sexual and gendered minority youth (ages 16-24) to mental health resources.

The study highlights the importance of anonymity in mobile health interventions for sensitive topics, as it increases acceptability among youth at higher risk for HIV and STIs, who often face stigma and discrimination.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"A Great Way to Start the Conversation": Evidence for the Use of an Adolescent Mental Health Chatbot Navigator for Youth at Risk of HIV and Other STIs. Sanabria, G., Greene, KY., Tran, JT., et al.[2023]

The Whitu app, designed to improve mental health in youth, showed significant reductions in anxiety and stress after 2 weeks, and improvements in well-being and depression after 6 weeks, based on a pilot study with 20 participants aged 16-25.

Qualitative feedback from 21 participants highlighted the app's usability and cultural acceptability, leading to modifications before a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) to further assess its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot study of a well-being app to support New Zealand young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Serlachius, A., Boggiss, A., Lim, D., et al.[2022]

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]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Female youth and mental health service providers' perspectives on the JoyPop™ app: a qualitative study. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile Health Interventions for Psychiatric Conditions in Children: A Scoping Review. [2022]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design and Development of the "POD Adventures" Smartphone Game: A Blended Problem-Solving Intervention for Adolescent Mental Health in India. [2023]

4. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and Open Trial of a Technology-Enhanced Family Intervention for Adolescents at Risk for Mood Disorders. [2022]

5. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Youth and Provider Perspectives on Behavior-Tracking Mobile Apps: Qualitative Analysis. [2021]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the feasibility of a mental health application (JoyPopTM) for Indigenous youth. [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile-based interventions for common mental disorders in youth: a systematic evaluation of pediatric health apps. [2021]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"A Great Way to Start the Conversation": Evidence for the Use of an Adolescent Mental Health Chatbot Navigator for Youth at Risk of HIV and Other STIs. [2023]

9. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot study of a well-being app to support New Zealand young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. [2022]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the relevance of a psychology-based resilience app (JoyPop™) for Indigenous youth. [2023]