TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring the acceptability of a digital mental health platform incorporating a virtual coach
T2 - the good, the bad, and the opportunities
AU - Venning, Anthony
AU - Herd, Madeleine Ce
AU - Oswald, Tassia K.
AU - Razmi, Sabran
AU - Glover, Fiona
AU - Hawke, Tim
AU - Quartermain, Victoria
AU - Redpath, Paula
PY - 2021/1/1
Y1 - 2021/1/1
N2 - Digital Mental Health Platforms offer feasible options to increase access to mental health support. This study aimed to examine the acceptability of a Low Intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Digital Mental Health Platform, containing a Virtual Coach, with University Students (n = 16) and Mental Health Professionals (n = 5). Semi-structured interviews, exploratory focus groups, and inductive thematic analysis were conducted. Four overarching themes were identified, with potential users and professionals highlighting positive aspects, elements to be improved, and ambivalent feelings towards the platform overall. However, participants predominately expressed negative experiences indicating that the Virtual Coach was unrelatable and hard to engage with. While Virtual Coaches and similar Digital Mental Health Platforms have the potential to overcome barriers for those attempting to access mental health services, their effectiveness may be limited if the people who need them are not drawn to and then consistently engaged with them. Based on the feedback attained for this specific Digital Mental Health Platform, recommendations are provided for future developers aiming to create similar platforms, to assist in their uptake and ensure ongoing user engagement.
AB - Digital Mental Health Platforms offer feasible options to increase access to mental health support. This study aimed to examine the acceptability of a Low Intensity Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Digital Mental Health Platform, containing a Virtual Coach, with University Students (n = 16) and Mental Health Professionals (n = 5). Semi-structured interviews, exploratory focus groups, and inductive thematic analysis were conducted. Four overarching themes were identified, with potential users and professionals highlighting positive aspects, elements to be improved, and ambivalent feelings towards the platform overall. However, participants predominately expressed negative experiences indicating that the Virtual Coach was unrelatable and hard to engage with. While Virtual Coaches and similar Digital Mental Health Platforms have the potential to overcome barriers for those attempting to access mental health services, their effectiveness may be limited if the people who need them are not drawn to and then consistently engaged with them. Based on the feedback attained for this specific Digital Mental Health Platform, recommendations are provided for future developers aiming to create similar platforms, to assist in their uptake and ensure ongoing user engagement.
KW - apps
KW - Digital Mental health
KW - LICBT
KW - technology
KW - young people
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101735996&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1460458221994873
DO - 10.1177/1460458221994873
M3 - Article
C2 - 33601947
AN - SCOPUS:85101735996
SN - 1741-2811
VL - 27
SP - 1
EP - 12
JO - Health Informatics Journal
JF - Health Informatics Journal
IS - 1
ER -
