JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Children of parents with mental health illness (COPMI) have the right to receive preventive interventions to avoid developing their own mental health and socioeconomic problems. However, access to interventions varies widely within health care and social services depending on their geographical location in Sweden. In this regard, mobile health (mHealth) interventions for COPMI provide a pathway for more equitable and sustainable preventive support.

Objective:

This project has the following aims: (1) to map and assess the quality of available mHealth apps relevant to COPMI; (2) to understand the existing needs for digital health solutions (particularly mHealth) by consulting and collaborating with an interdisciplinary reference group (scholars, child rights organizations, and IT professionals); and, (3) to explore the prerequisites for development, implementation, and sustainable access, for future digital solutions for COPMI.

Methods:

We collaborated with a reference group through a series of meetings and workshops, identifying and assessing the quality of 10 free, highly ranked apps (i.e., leveraging the well-known Mobile App Rating Scale, MARS). All the workshop sessions were recorded and transcribed for further qualitative analysis, allowing us to document and derive our main findings.

Results:

Three out of 10 apps, scored high across the MARS dimensions of functionality, aesthetics, information and engagement, indicating a significant lack of high-quality apps relevant for COPMI. Further findings were derived, such as the preference for more general apps that are not specifically targeted to COPMI, as these could promote self-identification and reduce stigmatization. Regarding the third aim, the result showed that it was important to find an app that protected users’ privacy by allowing anonymous access to digital support, and that mobile apps should be complemented (or replaced) by web-based applications for accessibility for children who may not be allowed to download apps without parental permission.

Conclusions:

The sustainability of digital solutions (web or mobile apps) for COPMI is the biggest challenge for future developments. Partnering with providers that are already established in the mental health area is key, extending their services to COPMI, while leveraging an app development infrastructure that already has sustainable processes and business models behind it. To address engagement and deployment issues, it is important to actively involve children through participatory and co-creational approaches when designing and developing mHealth solutions.