No retraction, correction or concern found when last checked on Oct 21, 2026.

Practitioner review: Co‐design of digital mental health technologies with children and young people

Rhys Bevan Jones, Paul Stallard, Sharifah Shameem Agha and 9 more

Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · 2020 · Review · CC BY

Abstract

Background. There is increasing interest in digital technologies to help improve children and young people’s mental health, and the evidence for the effectiveness for these approaches is rising. However, there is concern regarding levels of user engagement, uptake and adherence. Key guidance regarding digital health interventions stress the importance of early user input in the development, evaluation and implementation of technologies to help ensure they are engaging, feasible, acceptable and potentially effective. Co-design is a process of active involvement of stakeholders, requiring a change from the traditional approaches to intervention development. However, there is a lack of literature to inform the co-design of digital technologies to help child and adolescent mental health.

Methods. We reviewed the literature and practice in the co-design of digital mental health technologies with children and young people. We searched Medline, PsycInfo and Web of Science databases, guidelines, reviews and reference lists, contacted key authors for relevant studies, and extracted key themes on aspects of co-design relevant to practice. We supplemented this with case studies and methods reported by researchers working in the field.

Results. We identified 25 original articles and 30 digital mental health technologies that were designed/developed with children and young people. The themes identified were as follows: principles of co-design (including potential stakeholders and stages of involvement), methods of involving and engaging the range of users, co-designing the prototype and the challenges of co-design.

Conclusions. Co-design involves all relevant stakeholders throughout the life and research cycle of the programme. This review helps to inform practitioners and researchers interested in the development of digital health technologies for children and young people. Future work in this field will need to consider the changing face of technology, methods of engaging with the diversity in the user group, and the evaluation of the co-design process and its impact on the technology.

References 39

1.
Bevan Jones R, Thapar A, Rice F, Beeching H, Cichosz R, Mars B, Simpson SA. A Web-based psychoeducational intervention for adolescent depression: Design and development of MoodHwb. JMIR Mental Health. 2018;5:e13.
Not in our library10.2196/mental.8894
2.
Bevan Jones R, Thapar A, Rice F, Mars B, Agha SS, Smith DJ, Simpson SA. A digital intervention for adolescent depression (MoodHwb): Mixed-methods feasibility evaluation. JMIR Mental Health. 2020.
Not in our library10.2196/14536
3.
Bevan Jones R, Thapar A, Stone Z, Thapar AK, Jones I, Smith D, Simpson S. Psychoeducational interventions in adolescent depression: A systematic review. Patient Education and Counseling. 2018;101:804-816.
Not in our library10.1016/j.pec.2017.10.015
4.
Gamifying CBT to deliver emotional health treatment to young people on smartphones · 2019
Not checked
5.
Craig P, Dieppe P, Macintyre S, Michie S, Nazareth I, Petticrew M. Developing and evaluating complex interventions: the new Medical Research Council guidance. BMJ. 2008;337:a1655.
Not in our library10.1136/bmj.a1655
6.
Fleming T, Merry S, Stasiak K, Hopkins S, Patolo T, Ruru S, Goodyear-Smith F. The importance of user-segmentation for designing digital therapy for adolescent mental health: Findings from scoping processes. JMIR Mental Health. 2019;6:e12656.
Not in our library10.2196/12656
7.
Han J, Torok M, Gale N, Wong QJ, Werner-Seidler A, Hetrick SE, Christensen H. Use of web conferencing technology for conducting online focus groups among young people with lived experience of suicidal thoughts: mixed methods research. JMIR Mental Health. 2019;6:e14191.
Not in our library10.2196/14191
8.
Development of a framework for the co-production and prototyping of public health interventions · 2017
No notice
9.
Hodson E, Dadashi N, Delgado R, Chisholm C, Sgrignoli R, Swaine R. Co-design in mental health; Mellow: A self-help holistic crisis planning mobile application by youth, for youth. The Design Journal. 2019;22:1529-1542.
Not in our library
10.
Hollis C, Falconer CJ, Martin JL, Whittington C, Stockton S, Glazebrook C, Davies EB. Annual research review: Digital health interventions for children and young people with mental health problems-a systematic and meta-review. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2017;58:474-503.
Not in our library10.1111/jcpp.12663
11.
Huggett D, Flynn A, Jaouich A, Taylor-Gates M, Davidson S. Engaging youth in a mental health system improvement initiative in Ontario: Developing the BeSafe resource. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health. 2017;36:121-131.
Not in our library
12.
Landback J, Prochaska M, Ellis J, Dmochowska K, Kuwabara SA, Gladstone T, Van Voorhees BW. From prototype to product: development of a primary care/internet-based depression prevention intervention for adolescents (CATCH-IT). Community Mental Health Journal. 2009;45:349-354.
Not in our library10.1007/s10597-009-9226-3
13.
Lucassen MFG, Hatcher S, Stasiak K, Fleming T, Shepherd M, Merry SN. The views of lesbian, gay and bisexual youth regarding computerised self-help for depression: An exploratory study. Advances in Mental Health. 2013;12:22-33.
Not in our library
14.
The Behavioral Intervention Technology Model: An Integrated Conceptual and Technological Framework for eHealth and mHealth Interventions · 2014
No notice
15.
Monshat K, Vella-Brodrick D, Burns J, Herrman H. Mental health promotion in the Internet age: A consultation with Australian young people to inform the design of an online mindfulness training programme. Health Promotion International. 2012;27:177-186.
Not in our library10.1093/heapro/dar017
16.
Naslund JA, Aschbrenner KA, Araya R, Marsch LA, Unützer J, Patel V, Bartels SJ. Digital technology for treating and preventing mental disorders in low-income and middle-income countries: A narrative review of the literature. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4:486-500.
Not in our library10.1016/s2215-0366(17)30096-2
17.
Depression in children and young people: Identification and management (NG134). 2019.
Not in our library
18.
Neufeld SAS, Dunn VJ, Jones PB, Croudace TJ, Goodyer IM. Reduction in adolescent depression after contact with mental health services: A longitudinal cohort study in the UK. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4:120-127.
Not in our library10.1016/s2215-0366(17)30002-0
19.
Oliver KG, Collin P, Burns J, Nicholas J. Building resilience in young people through meaningful participation. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health. 2006;5:34-40.
Not in our library
20.
Orlowski SK, Lawn S, Venning A, Winsall M, Jones GM, Wyld K, Bidargaddi N. Participatory research as one piece of the puzzle: A systematic review of consumer involvement in design of technology-based youth mental health and well-being interventions. JMIR Human Factors. 2015;2:e12.
Not in our library10.2196/humanfactors.4361
21.
Radovic A, DeMand AL, Gmelin T, Stein BD, Miller E. SOVA: Design of a stakeholder informed social media website for depressed adolescents and their parents. Journal of Technology in Human Services. 2018;35:169-182.
Not in our library10.1080/15228835.2017.1347552
22.
Rehfuess EA, Booth A, Brereton L, Burns J, Gerhardus A, Mozygemba K, Rohwer A. Towards a taxonomy of logic models in systematic reviews and health technology assessments: A priori, staged, and iterative approaches. Research Synthesis Methods. 2018;9:13-24.
Not in our library10.1002/jrsm.1254
23.
Rice S, Gleeson J, Davey C, Hetrick S, Parker A, Lederman R, Alvarez-Jimenez M. Moderated online social therapy for depression relapse prevention in young people: Pilot study of a ‘next generation’ online intervention. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. 2018;12:613-625.
Not in our library10.1111/eip.12354
24.
Robinson A, Yule W, Verduyn C, Smith P, Proudfoot J, Abeles P. Stressbusters: The development of a computerised CBT programme for adolescent depression. ACAMH Occasional Papers. 2011;30:45-50.
Not in our library
25.
Robinson J, Bailey E, Hetrick S, Paix S, O’Donnell M, Cox G, Ftanou M, Skehan J. Developing social media-based suicide prevention messages in partnership with young people: Exploratory study. JMIR Mental Health. 2017;4:e40.
Not in our library10.2196/mental.7847
26.
Saulsberry A, Corden ME, Taylor-Crawford K, Crawford TJ, Johnson M, Froemel J, Van Voorhees BW. Chicago Urban Resiliency Building (CURB): An internet-based depression-prevention intervention for urban African-American and Latino adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2013;22:150-160.
Not in our library
27.
Shepherd M, Fleming T, Lucassen M, Stasiak K, Lambie I, Merry SN. The design and relevance of a computerized gamified depression therapy program for indigenous Māori adolescents. JMIR Serious Games. 2015;3:e1.
Not in our library10.2196/games.3804
28.
Shum AK, Lai ES, Leung WG, Cheng MN, Wong HK, So SW, Yip PS. A digital game and schoolbased intervention for students in Hong Kong: Quasi-experimental design. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2019;21:e12003.
Not in our library10.2196/12003
29.
Sobowale K, Zhou AN, Van Voorhees BW, Stewart S, Tsang A, Ip P, Chim D. Adaptation of an internet-based depression prevention intervention for Chinese adolescents: From “CATCH-IT” to “Grasp the opportunity”. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health. 2013;25:127-137.
Not in our library10.1515/ijamh-2013-0020
30.
A Smartphone App (BlueIce) for Young People Who Self-Harm: Open Phase 1 Pre-Post Trial · 2018
Not checked
31.
Stallard P, Richardson T, Velleman S, Attwood M. Computerized CBT (Think, Feel, Do) for depression and anxiety in children and adolescents: Outcomes and feedback from a pilot randomized controlled trial. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy. 2011;39:273-284.
Not in our library10.1017/s135246581000086x
32.
Teesson M, Newton NC, Slade T, Chapman C, Allsop S, Hides L, Andrews G. The CLIMATE schools combined study: A cluster randomised controlled trial of a universal Internet-based prevention program for youth substance misuse, depression and anxiety. BMC Psychiatry. 2014;14:32.
Not in our library10.1186/1471-244x-14-32
33.
Co-design of eHealth Interventions With Children and Young People · 2018
No notice
34.
Werner-Seidler A, O’Dea B, Shand F, Johnston L, Frayne A, Fogarty AS, Christensen H. A smartphone app for adolescents with sleep disturbance: development of the Sleep Ninja. JMIR Mental Health. 2017;4:e28.
Not in our library10.2196/mental.7614
35.
Whittaker R, Merry S, Stasiak K, McDowell H, Doherty I, Shepherd M, Rodgers A. MEMO-a mobile phone depression prevention intervention for adolescents: Development process and postprogram findings on acceptability from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2012;14:e13.
Not in our library10.2196/jmir.1857
36.
Six steps in quality intervention development (6SQuID) · 2015
No notice
37.
Wiljer D, Johnson A, McDiarmid E, Abi-Jaoude A, Ferguson G, Hollenberg E, Law M. Thought Spot: Co-creating mental health solutions with post-secondary students. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics. 2017;234:370-375.
Not in our library
38.
The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: Diagnostic criteria for research. 1993.
Not in our library
39.
The Person-Based Approach to Intervention Development: Application to Digital Health-Related Behavior Change Interventions · 2015
No notice

Cited by papers we hold 1

What adults with ADHD want to know: A Delphi consensus study on the psychoeducational needs of experts by experience · 2022
Not checked

Reads

Read by people on this page

None yet.

Checked or read by AI through naulon

None yet.

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.

Are you an author?

Is this your paper?

Claim it to add your note and be paid when agents cite it. Free.