Up to 25% of young people in Denmark report increasing levels of pressure, loneliness, sleep problems, and symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. There is a huge unmet need for effective youth mental health promotion addressing transdiagnostic risk factors for mental ill health.
Online mental health interventions, such as those delivered via websites and apps, may offer the potential to overcome barriers to accessing mental health support for young people. Young people in Denmark and abroad are increasingly using the internet to access health information and support.
In-depth knowledge about the potential of online solutions to promote mental health and well-being among young people in Denmark is crucial for the development of effective first-level interventions for mental health problems, i.e., interventions that provide immediate help and guide users to the appropriate level of support.
Purpose
The overall aim of this PhD project is to investigate how young people aged 15-25 years perceive, use, and implement online evidence-based information, online self-help tools, and online guidance in their everyday life. The project will consist of three sub-studies which together will contribute with fundamental knowledge about online mental health promotion targeting young people, how young people experience Mindhelper.dk and methodological reflections on how to study online mental health promotion interventions. The specific objectives of the sub-studies are:
- To explore young people’s perceptions of an online mental health promotion service targeting young people, including the benefits and limitations of online mental health promotion.
- To explore how young people use and integrate information and self-help tools from Mindhelper.dk into their everyday life and coping strategies towards mental health and well-being.
- To explore methodologically how to qualitatively study online mental health promotion interventions.
Method
In this PhD study, qualitative data sources will be used in the form of document analysis and two different interview approaches. The PhD study will thus use different qualitative methods and include analysis by means of triangulation i.e., combining methodologies in the study of the same phenomenon [30]. In each interview study, participants will be included according to the following criteria: aged 15-25, Danish speaking, and Danish residency.
Period of project
PhD projects run from November 2022 and three years onwards. Results from the sub-studies will be published continuously.
Collaborations and funding provider
The project is carried out in collaboration with Centre for Digital Psychiatry, The Region of Southern Denmark.
The project is funded by Trygfonden, Jaschafonden and Danish Regions (Fælles regionale pulje til forskning i forebyggelse).