Project Description
To understand whether mental health apps are safe and effective, we must reliably measure mental health outcomes for those who use them. While there are many tools and methods available to monitor an individual’s response to treatment, not all of these tools and methods have been scientifically validated for use in the digital mental health world.
In partnership with Frayme, HRI identified the tools and methodologies that are most effective for measuring outcomes related to anxiety and depression among youth who use mental health apps. An expert panel including scientists, mental health professionals, and people with lived and living experience of related mental health challenges worked together to identify the outcomes that matter most to app users. They also collaborated to determine the most effective tools, metrics, and methodologies for rigorously measuring these priority outcomes. The result is a standardized set of metrics and methods that can be used to assess app effectiveness, compare apps, and ultimately improve services to benefit users.
Findings
Improving Digital Mental Health Services for Youth with Valid and Reliable Measurement Scales
Research Team
Dr. Yuri Quintana (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, Harvard University, HRI), Dr. Zoe Liao (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre), Dr. Travis Sztainert (Frayme), Jimmy Tan (Frayme), Alyna Walji (HRI), Catherine Willinksy (Frayme), Micaela Harley (Frayme), Kristy Allen (Frayme), Alana Salsberg (Frayme), Avantika Pathak (BIDMC), Samantha Valliant (BIDMC), Dr. Lena Quilty (CAMH)
Funder
Funder: RBC Foundation, Frayme