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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial evaluates a mental health app called JoyPop to determine if it helps youth waiting for mental health services manage their emotions better. The trial targets young people aged 12-17 in Canada, focusing on rural areas like Northwestern Ontario, where access to mental health services is limited. Participants will be divided into two groups: one using the JoyPop app along with usual wait-list practices, and another following only the usual practices. Youth on wait-lists at St. Joseph's Care Group or Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, who can attend an orientation and have access to an iOS device, are well-suited for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for youth to potentially benefit from innovative mental health support while contributing to important research.

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 prior data suggests that the JoyPop app is safe for youth mental health?

Research shows that the JoyPop app helps young people manage their emotions, a crucial aspect of growing up. Although specific safety data for the app is unavailable, mobile health apps generally aim to enhance mental health without physical risks.

Studies have found that these apps can facilitate access to mental health support and improve well-being for students. This suggests that apps like JoyPop are typically user-friendly and safe. As a digital tool, JoyPop does not involve medication or physical treatments, reducing the risk of side effects.

In summary, while detailed safety data for the JoyPop app is lacking, the nature of mobile health apps suggests they are safe for young people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App because it offers a fresh approach to supporting youth mental health. Unlike traditional treatments that might rely heavily on therapy sessions or medication, JoyPop provides a digital, self-guided tool that young people can access anytime, anywhere. This app is designed to be user-friendly and can be integrated into daily life, potentially increasing accessibility and engagement for those who might not have easy access to in-person care. Additionally, by offering immediate resources and support, it could help bridge the gap during wait times for more traditional treatments.

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

Research shows that the JoyPop app, which participants in this trial may receive, can help young people manage their emotions better. Controlling emotions is important for improving mental health. Studies have found that the app builds resilience, helping users recover from stress or challenges. Although data collection for young people in rural areas is ongoing, the app has been tested with other youth groups and appears promising for mental health support. This trial aims to ease the wait for mental health services by providing young people with useful tools in the meantime. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

Citations

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

2. 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 ...

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. 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 ...

5. humanfactors.jmir.org humanfactors.jmir.org/2025/1/e65472

Usability and Quality of the JoyPop App - JMIR Human Factors The JoyPop app is a resilience-building mental health app with evidence supporting its effectiveness for student mental health. It has yet to be ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12248135/

Usability and Quality of the JoyPop App Mobile health smartphone apps for mental health reduce common barriers to care and improve student mental health outcomes. However, students' engagement and use ...

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06239545

JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App With Transitional-Aged ... The JoyPop app was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a key difficulty for youth presenting with mental health challenges. Mobile mental health ...

8. trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-024-08076-y

Increasing access to mental health supports for 12–17-year ... This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of the JoyPop app as a tool to support Indigenous youth waiting for mental health services.

9. trialx.com trialx.com/clinical-trials/listings/269184/joypop-mobile-mental-health-app-with-indigenous-transitional-aged-youth/

JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App With Indigenous ... The JoyPop app was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a key difficulty for youth presenting with mental health challenges. A two ...