JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Mental health disorders are a leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents worldwide, yet barriers such as cost, stigma, and limited availability hinder access to traditional services. Digital mental health platforms offer a promising solution by providing free, anonymous, and accessible support. However, little is known about how these tools are implemented and perceived by school and community stakeholders in real-world settings. Gathering insights from key stakeholders is essential to understand digital platfrom acceptability, adoption, and integration into everyday practice.

Objective:

This study examines school and community stakeholders’ perceptions of a new, free, anonymous digital mental health platform for youth (Soluna) in its first year of rollout, focusing on its features, barriers and facilitators to early implementation and adoption, and early perceptions of its impact on youth mental health.

Methods:

Surveys were distributed to 77 stakeholders (54 school staff, 23 community staff) in California from February to April 2025. Eligible participants were frontline staff directly engaging with youth in settings where the platform was offered. Following the survey, 17 stakeholders (12 school, 5 community) participated in semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Survey data were analyzed descriptively to summarize perceptions and experiences, while interview data were analyzed using inductive-deductive reflexive thematic analysis to explore themes related to implementation, facilitators, and barriers.

Results:

Most stakeholders (71.4%) agreed that the platform positively contributed to youth well-being, and 89.6% felt comfortable referring youth to it indicating good acceptability. Free access (91.0%), availability during non-traditional hours (45.0%), and ease of use (42.0%) were identified by stakeholders as the most valuable features for youth. Facilitators of adoption included digital accessibility (87.0%), confidential peer support (84.1%), and youth choice in engagement (85.7%). Key barriers included stigma around mental health (64.7%) and lack of awareness of the platform’s benefits (61.0%). Qualitative findings revealed three main categories with subsequent emergent themes: (1) perceived impact, including the platform’s role in supporting youth from diverse backgrounds and as an additional resource when traditional services are limited; (2) facilitators to implementation and adoption, such as direct referrals, peer promotion, accessible framing focused on coping and life skills, supportive materials, and representative engagement from platform staff; and (3) barriers to implementation and adoption, including external barriers such as stigma and phone and internet access challenges in schools. Stakeholders also noted the importance of practical resources and ongoing support to build confidence in using and recommending the platform.

Conclusions:

Stakeholders viewed the platform as a valuable and accessible tool to support youth mental health, particularly in underserved communities. Findings suggest that digital mental health platforms should address external barriers to adoption, including stigma around mental health, while also increasing awareness of available resources. Providing tailored implementation support demonstrates progress in these areas and can further strengthen adoption and engagement. These findings offer actionable recommendations for improving the design and delivery of digital mental health platforms in real-world youth-serving settings. Clinical Trial: n/a