Improving Access and Mental Health For Youth Using Smart Technologies. Issue 1 (30th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Forchuk, Cheryl; Fisman, Sandra; Reiss, Jeffrey P.; Collins, Kerry; Eichstedt, Julie; Rudnick, Abraham; Isaranuwatchai, Wanrudee; Hoch, Jeffrey S.; Wang, Xianbin; Lizotte, Daniel; Macpherson, Shona; Booth, Richard
• Is Part Of: IET smart cities. Volume 3:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 51
• Publication Date: 2021-03-30
• Subjects: Smart cities -- Periodicals; City planning -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Cities and towns -- Growth -- Periodicals; Sustainable urban development -- Periodicals; Sustainable development; City planning -- Technological innovations; Cities and towns -- Growth; Periodicals; 307.76
• DOI: 10.1049/smc2.12006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2631-7680

Abstract

Abstract: The overall objective of this research is to evaluate the use of a mobile health smartphone application (app) to improve the mental health of youth between the ages of 14 and 25 years, with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. This project includes 122 youth who are accessing outpatient mental health services at one of three hospitals and two community agencies. The youth and care providers are using the Smart technology to enhance care. The technology uses mobile questionnaires (Qnaires TM ) to help promote self‐assessment and track changes to support the plan of care. The youth were provided a smartphone and talk/text/data plan, if needed. The majority of participants identified themselves as Caucasian (73.5%). Expectedly, the demographics revealed that Anxiety Disorders and Mood Disorders were highly prevalent within the sample (73.6% and 66.9% respectively). Findings from the qualitative summary established that both staff and youth found having a smartphone and data plan beneficial. Demographic variables such as age, sex, mental health and physical health did not predict which youth were more likely to use the application.