Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic Review
BackgroundThe prevalence of mental health difficulties among young people has risen in recent years, with 75% of mental disorders emerging before the age of 24 years. The identification and treatment of mental health issues earlier in life improves later-life outcomes. The CO...
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JMIR Publications
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e68544 |
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| author | Rinad Bakhti Harmani Daler Hephzibah Ogunro Steven Hope Dougal Hargreaves Dasha Nicholls |
| author_facet | Rinad Bakhti Harmani Daler Hephzibah Ogunro Steven Hope Dougal Hargreaves Dasha Nicholls |
| author_sort | Rinad Bakhti |
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BackgroundThe prevalence of mental health difficulties among young people has risen in recent years, with 75% of mental disorders emerging before the age of 24 years. The identification and treatment of mental health issues earlier in life improves later-life outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the growth of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs), which offer accessible support. However, young people of different ethnicities face barriers to DMHIs, such as socioeconomic disadvantage and cultural stigma.
ObjectiveThis review aimed to summarize and evaluate the engagement with and effectiveness of DMHIs among young people of different ethnicities.
MethodsA systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO for studies published between January 2019 and May 2024, with an update in September 2024. The inclusion criteria were participants aged <25 years using DMHIs from various ethnic backgrounds. Three reviewers independently screened and selected the studies. Data on engagement (eg, use and uptake) and effectiveness (eg, clinical outcomes and symptom improvement) were extracted and synthesized to compare findings. Studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.
ResultsThe final search yielded 67 studies, of which 7 (10%) met inclusion criteria. There were 1853 participants across the 7 studies, all from high-income countries. Participants were predominantly aged 12 to 25 years, with representation of diverse ethnic identities, including Black, Asian, Hispanic, mixed race, and Aboriginal individuals. Engagement outcomes varied, with culturally relatable, low-cost interventions showing higher retention and user satisfaction. Linguistic barriers and country of origin impeded the effectiveness of some interventions, while near-peer mentorship, coproduction, and tailored content improved the effectiveness of DMHIs. While initial results are promising, small sample sizes, heterogeneity in outcome assessments, and a paucity of longitudinal data impeded robust comparisons and generalizability.
ConclusionsDMHIs show potential as engaging and effective mental health promotional tools for young people of different ethnicities, especially when coproduced and culturally relatable. Initial data suggest that interventions facilitating near-peer mentoring, linguistic adaptation, low cost, and cultural relatability have improved engagement and effectiveness. Future research should focus on developing a consensus definition of DMHIs, exploring DMHIs in children aged <12 years, and conducting detailed qualitative and quantitative research on use factors and treatment efficacy of DMHIs for young people of different ethnicities.
Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42024544364; https://tinyurl.com/yk5jt8yk |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8a6ec5a85c2e4e5d9bf530da942de7e9 |
| institution | OA Journals |
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| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a6ec5a85c2e4e5d9bf530da942de7e92025-08-20T01:53:49ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712025-04-0127e6854410.2196/68544Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic ReviewRinad Bakhtihttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-7824-2181Harmani Dalerhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4216-8237Hephzibah Ogunrohttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-1425-8435Steven Hopehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6759-6927Dougal Hargreaveshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0722-9847Dasha Nichollshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7257-6605 BackgroundThe prevalence of mental health difficulties among young people has risen in recent years, with 75% of mental disorders emerging before the age of 24 years. The identification and treatment of mental health issues earlier in life improves later-life outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the growth of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs), which offer accessible support. However, young people of different ethnicities face barriers to DMHIs, such as socioeconomic disadvantage and cultural stigma. ObjectiveThis review aimed to summarize and evaluate the engagement with and effectiveness of DMHIs among young people of different ethnicities. MethodsA systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO for studies published between January 2019 and May 2024, with an update in September 2024. The inclusion criteria were participants aged <25 years using DMHIs from various ethnic backgrounds. Three reviewers independently screened and selected the studies. Data on engagement (eg, use and uptake) and effectiveness (eg, clinical outcomes and symptom improvement) were extracted and synthesized to compare findings. Studies were assessed for quality using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. ResultsThe final search yielded 67 studies, of which 7 (10%) met inclusion criteria. There were 1853 participants across the 7 studies, all from high-income countries. Participants were predominantly aged 12 to 25 years, with representation of diverse ethnic identities, including Black, Asian, Hispanic, mixed race, and Aboriginal individuals. Engagement outcomes varied, with culturally relatable, low-cost interventions showing higher retention and user satisfaction. Linguistic barriers and country of origin impeded the effectiveness of some interventions, while near-peer mentorship, coproduction, and tailored content improved the effectiveness of DMHIs. While initial results are promising, small sample sizes, heterogeneity in outcome assessments, and a paucity of longitudinal data impeded robust comparisons and generalizability. ConclusionsDMHIs show potential as engaging and effective mental health promotional tools for young people of different ethnicities, especially when coproduced and culturally relatable. Initial data suggest that interventions facilitating near-peer mentoring, linguistic adaptation, low cost, and cultural relatability have improved engagement and effectiveness. Future research should focus on developing a consensus definition of DMHIs, exploring DMHIs in children aged <12 years, and conducting detailed qualitative and quantitative research on use factors and treatment efficacy of DMHIs for young people of different ethnicities. Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42024544364; https://tinyurl.com/yk5jt8ykhttps://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e68544 |
| spellingShingle | Rinad Bakhti Harmani Daler Hephzibah Ogunro Steven Hope Dougal Hargreaves Dasha Nicholls Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic Review Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic Review |
| title_full | Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic Review |
| title_short | Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic Review |
| title_sort | exploring engagement with and effectiveness of digital mental health interventions in young people of different ethnicities systematic review |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e68544 |
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