About this Research Topic

Background

Background:
Mental ill-health is the number one health issue facing young people worldwide. Rates of mental ill-health among young people are the highest of any age group. Mental ill-health has direct and significant consequences on a young person’s well-being, ability to establish social networks, begin intimate relationships, maintain positive physical health, complete education and move into employment. Not surprisingly, the onset of mental illness at such as critical developmental point often results in long-term loneliness, stigma, unemployment and ongoing disability. Despite this, rates of access and use of mental health services by young people is the lowest of any age group.

Mobile and information and communication technologies have transformed the way young people interact with one another and the wider community and provide a unique opportunity to deliver effective, engaging, accessible and in real time support to young people and their families. There are many online and mobile interventions designed to improve mental health wellbeing. However, most mobile applications are not evidence-based, nor focus on the needs of young people and/or their families. In addition, unlike commercial social media platforms, online mental health interventions are associated with high attrition rates. Finally, technology-based interventions and youth mental health services are not integrated, making it very challenging for young people and their families to navigate the mental health system vs. the myriad of mobile apps and websites claiming to improve wellbeing.

Novel technologies such as virtual reality, digital phenotyping and passive sensing have the potential advance psychological interventions in youth, by providing persuasive, compelling and in real time effective interventions.

The aim of this Research Topic is to advance the science of developing, evaluating and disseminating technology-based interventions for young people suffering from mental-ill health and their families by providing the latest quality research into these topics. As such, interventions designed to be integrated with and transform current youth mental health services are critical.

Details for Authors:
The focus of this Research Topic will be on technology-based interventions in youth mental health. The target population will be adolescents and young adults aged 14-25, with clinical-level mental health disorders, as well as their relatives. Specifically, the scope of the articles to be included in this Research Topic includes: 1) technology-based interventions (e.g., mobile, online, virtual reality, augmented reality); 2) randomised controlled trials, feasibility studies, pilot studies, case-control studies, case series, qualitative investigations, technology-based interventions in routine care, research into usage of technology or online resources by young people and their families (and/or clinicians), systematic reviews and high quality narrative reviews that advance knowledge in the area.

Articles focused on online social media-based interventions; blended, integrated or augmented models of care (i.e., face to face interventions integrated with digital interventions); and new advances in methods/interventions (e.g., virtual reality, augmented reality, digital phenotyping) will be prioritised.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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