JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

The proliferation of mental health apps purporting to target and improve psychological wellbeing is ever-growing yet also concerning: few apps have been rigorously evaluated and the safety of most of them has not been determined. Over 10000 self-help apps exist but the majority are not used much after being downloaded. Gathering and analysing usage data and the acceptability of apps is critical to inform consumers, researchers and app developers. This paper presents pilot usage and acceptability data from the ibobbly suicide prevention app, an app distributed through a randomised controlled trial. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants from the Kimberley region of Western Australia completed a survey measuring their technology use in general (n=13) and data on their experiences and views of the ibobbly app were also collected in semi-structured interviews (n=13) and thematically analysed. Finally, engagement with the app, such as the number of completed sessions and time spent on various acceptance-based therapeutic activities were analysed (n=18). Regression analysis indicate that app use improved psychological outcomes although only minimally and effects were not significant. However, results of the thematic analysis indicate that the ibobbly app was deemed effective, acceptable and culturally appropriate by those interviewed.