Young people co-design self-harm prevention app

Return to eHealthNews.nz home page

Picture: Preliminary images of app proof of concept

eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

Mental health experts from The University of Auckland are co-designing an app with young people to help them deal with issues of suicide, self-harm and substance abuse.

Associate professor of youth mental health Sarah Hetrick is speaking about the development at the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions conference in Auckland on 13–15 February.

Hertick says access to mental health services varies and services are under-resourced to meet the need. Technology can help, not by replacing services, but by expanding access, she explains.

The app will provide a way to set goals, track progress and reflect on what values are important to the user. They can then choose to share this activity with family members or health professionals.

The app will also provide rapid access to help if a young person finds him or herself in an unsafe situation or unable to cope.

“In suicide prevention we want to make sure people are not isolated and alone, but connected to people who can help them,” she says.

Key to the development is the co-design with young people, who are working with the team to name the app, illustrate it and create content that is useful to them.

The aim is to build it over the next 8–10 weeks, start testing a prototype in April and release it by the end of this year.

Users will be able to set long- and short-term goals and the app will provide encouragement to achieve those.

Hertick says they are looking to use music as a motivator for young people, potentially using playlists created by Kiwi music stars with messages of support.

“There’s lots of e-mental health tools available and [the ones that have been rigorously tested], we know they work if people use them, but the issue is getting people to use them and stick with them,” Hertick says.

“That’s why we hope the concept of music and New Zealand artists will be a tool of engagement.”

The key aim is to support young people to develop self-regulation strategies, including self-soothing and positive help-seeking.

“It’s got a really lovely focus, it’s like a coach in the hand of a young person,” says Hertick.

Return to eHealthNews.nz home page