The use of co-design with young people for digital mental health support development: A systematic review

Co-design methods offer an opportunity to meaningfully involve young people in research to ensure that designed supports are useable and responsive to their needs. However, how co-design is currently being applied with young people in the digital mental health field is unclear. This review aimed to...

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Main Authors: Órla McGovern, Shauna Glennon, Isobel Walsh, Pamela Gallagher, Darragh McCashin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Internet Interventions
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782925000363
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author Órla McGovern
Shauna Glennon
Isobel Walsh
Pamela Gallagher
Darragh McCashin
author_facet Órla McGovern
Shauna Glennon
Isobel Walsh
Pamela Gallagher
Darragh McCashin
author_sort Órla McGovern
collection DOAJ
description Co-design methods offer an opportunity to meaningfully involve young people in research to ensure that designed supports are useable and responsive to their needs. However, how co-design is currently being applied with young people in the digital mental health field is unclear. This review aimed to critically synthesise the use of co-design with young people to design or modify digital mental health interventions and supports. Six databases were searched for empirical papers published in English from 2012 onwards. Papers were included if they reported on young people aged up to 25 years of age who were involved in the co-design of an online mental health intervention or support. A narrative synthesis of 30 papers meeting these specific criteria was completed. The results highlighted an interchangeable and inconsistent terminology used to described co-design and related approaches across papers. The level of inclusion of young people varied and there was a lack of consideration for power dynamics. Future research should aim to establish a clear and consistent definition and terminology for co-design along with a rigorous gold-standard framework for reporting co-design in order to ensure the process is being carried out in line with its original purpose. Implications for research and practice in the youth co-design field are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-99992634f2e245e7ac91e1d3824acdb32025-08-26T04:14:16ZengElsevierInternet Interventions2214-78292025-09-014110083510.1016/j.invent.2025.100835The use of co-design with young people for digital mental health support development: A systematic reviewÓrla McGovern0Shauna Glennon1Isobel Walsh2Pamela Gallagher3Darragh McCashin4Corresponding author.; School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, IrelandSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, IrelandSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, IrelandSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, IrelandSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, IrelandCo-design methods offer an opportunity to meaningfully involve young people in research to ensure that designed supports are useable and responsive to their needs. However, how co-design is currently being applied with young people in the digital mental health field is unclear. This review aimed to critically synthesise the use of co-design with young people to design or modify digital mental health interventions and supports. Six databases were searched for empirical papers published in English from 2012 onwards. Papers were included if they reported on young people aged up to 25 years of age who were involved in the co-design of an online mental health intervention or support. A narrative synthesis of 30 papers meeting these specific criteria was completed. The results highlighted an interchangeable and inconsistent terminology used to described co-design and related approaches across papers. The level of inclusion of young people varied and there was a lack of consideration for power dynamics. Future research should aim to establish a clear and consistent definition and terminology for co-design along with a rigorous gold-standard framework for reporting co-design in order to ensure the process is being carried out in line with its original purpose. Implications for research and practice in the youth co-design field are discussed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782925000363Co-designParticipatory designYouth mental healthDigital mental healthOnline help-seekingHuman-computer interaction
spellingShingle Órla McGovern
Shauna Glennon
Isobel Walsh
Pamela Gallagher
Darragh McCashin
The use of co-design with young people for digital mental health support development: A systematic review
Internet Interventions
Co-design
Participatory design
Youth mental health
Digital mental health
Online help-seeking
Human-computer interaction
title The use of co-design with young people for digital mental health support development: A systematic review
title_full The use of co-design with young people for digital mental health support development: A systematic review
title_fullStr The use of co-design with young people for digital mental health support development: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed The use of co-design with young people for digital mental health support development: A systematic review
title_short The use of co-design with young people for digital mental health support development: A systematic review
title_sort use of co design with young people for digital mental health support development a systematic review
topic Co-design
Participatory design
Youth mental health
Digital mental health
Online help-seeking
Human-computer interaction
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782925000363
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