JoyPop App + Usual Care for Mental Health in Indigenous Youth

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)

Overseen by Aislin R Mushquash, Ph.D.

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Lakehead University

Disqualifiers: Non-Indigenous, Not on wait-list, others

No Placebo Group

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario who need mental health supports experience longer waits than non-Indigenous youth within the region and when compared to youth in other more urban areas. Limited access and extended waits can exacerbate symptoms, prolong distress, and increase risk for more serious outcomes. Novel, innovative approaches are urgently needed to provide support for Indigenous youth in Northwestern Ontario. In partnership with Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, the investigators are evaluating the impact of a mental health app (JoyPop) as a tool for Indigenous youth who are waiting for mental health services. The JoyPop app was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a key difficulty for youth presenting with mental health challenges. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the app compared to usual practice while Indigenous youth are waiting for mental health services.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on using an app alongside usual care, so you may not need to change your current medication routine.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment JoyPop app for mental health in Indigenous youth?

The JoyPop app is a resilience-building tool that has been considered for use with Indigenous youth, and similar mobile health interventions like the ibobbly app have shown promise in reducing suicidal thoughts and psychological distress among Indigenous youth in Australia. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the JoyPop app safe for use in humans?

The available research on the JoyPop app focuses on its acceptability and feasibility for Indigenous youth, but does not provide specific safety data. However, it is generally considered a promising tool for improving mental health and resilience among youth. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

How is the JoyPop app treatment different from other mental health treatments for Indigenous youth?

The JoyPop app is unique because it is a mobile application designed to enhance resilience among Indigenous youth by leveraging technology, making it accessible even in remote communities. Unlike traditional treatments, it focuses on self-help and resilience-building, which can be particularly beneficial for Indigenous youth facing ongoing trauma and mental health challenges. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Indigenous youth aged 12-17 in Northwestern Ontario who are on the wait-list for mental health services at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care. Participants must be able to attend an orientation and need access to an iOS device, which can be provided.

Inclusion Criteria

I am an Indigenous youth aged 12-17 waiting for mental health services at Dilico.

Participants will need access to an iOS device (e.g., iPhone, iPad) in order to download the JoyPop app. Refurbished iPhones containing just the JoyPop app will be provided to participants to use for the duration of the trial if they do not have access to their own.

Eligible youth will also need to be available to attend a virtual or in-person orientation session

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Usual Practice

Participants will be monitored through existing wait-list practices which involve regular phone calls to check in and assess functioning

4 weeks

Regular phone calls

Usual Practice + JoyPop

Participants will be monitored through existing wait-list practices and will receive access to the JoyPop app

4 weeks

Regular phone calls

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in emotion regulation and mental health difficulties after the intervention

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• JoyPop (Behavioral Intervention)

Trial Overview The trial is testing a mobile app called JoyPop, designed to help with emotion regulation, against usual practices while waiting for mental health services. It's a two-arm randomized controlled trial assessing the app's effectiveness.

Participant Groups

Group I: Usual Practice + JoyPop Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be monitored through the existing wait-list practices, which involve regular phone calls to check in and assess functioning, and will receive access to the JoyPop app for 4 weeks.

Group II: Usual Practice Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will be monitored through existing wait-list practices which involve regular phone calls to check in and assess functioning. After 4 weeks in the Usual Practice condition, participants will be offered access to the JoyPop app.

JoyPop is already approved in Canada for the following indications:

🇨🇦 Approved in Canada as JoyPop for:

• Emotion regulation difficulties
• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety

Find a Clinic Near You

Research Locations Nearby Select from list below to view details:

Lakehead University Thunder Bay, Canada

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Lakehead University Lead Sponsor

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care Collaborator

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ibobbly mobile health intervention for suicide prevention in Australian Indigenous youth: a pilot randomised controlled trial. [2022] Rates of youth suicide in Australian Indigenous communities are 4 times the national youth average and demand innovative interventions. Historical and persistent disadvantage is coupled with multiple barriers to help seeking. Mobile phone applications offer the opportunity to deliver therapeutic interventions directly to individuals in remote communities. The pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-help mobile app (ibobbly) targeting suicidal ideation, depression, psychological distress and impulsivity among Indigenous youth in remote Australia.

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Digital Health Solutions for Indigenous Mental Well-Being. [2020] This review summarizes digital health solutions being used for Indigenous mental well-being, with emphasis on available evidence and examples reported in the literature. We also describe our own local experience with a rural telemental health service for Indigenous youth and discuss the unique opportunities and challenges.

3. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Drafting the Aboriginal and Islander Mental Health Initiative for Youth (AIMhi-Y) App: Results of a formative mixed methods study. [2022] Culturally responsive, strengths-based early-intervention mental health treatment programs are considered most appropriate to influence the high rates of psychological distress and suicide experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. Few early intervention services effectively bridge the socio-cultural and geographic challenges of providing sufficient and culturally relevant services in rural and remote Australia. Mental Health apps provide an opportunity to bridge current gaps in service access if co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to meet their needs.

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A community-led design for an Indigenous Model of Mental Health Care for Indigenous people with depressive disorders. [2021] To generate outcomes for the development of a culturally appropriate mental health treatment model for Indigenous Australians with depression.

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the relevance of a psychology-based resilience app (JoyPop™) for Indigenous youth. [2023] Despite facing challenges to mental wellness from ongoing multifold trauma, Indigenous youth continue to galvanize their resilience. One pathway undertaken is embracing technology. The JoyPop™ youth resilience mobile application (app) was invited by Six Nations of the Grand River (SN) leadership to consider its use with their reserve youth.

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the feasibility of a mental health application (JoyPopTM) for Indigenous youth. [2023] The purpose of the current study was to explore the acceptability and feasibility of a resilience-focused mobile application, JoyPop™, for use with Indigenous youth.

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Female youth and mental health service providers' perspectives on the JoyPop™ app: a qualitative study. [2023] Mobile health (mHealth) apps are a promising adjunct to traditional mental health services, especially in underserviced areas. Developed to foster resilience in youth, the JoyPop™ app has a growing evidence base showing improvement in emotion regulation and mental health symptoms among youth. However, whether this novel technology will be accepted among those using or providing mental health services remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the JoyPop™ app's acceptance among (a) a clinical sample of youth and (b) mental health service providers.

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Application of Two-Eyed Seeing in Adolescent Mental Health to Bridge Design Thinking and Indigenous Collective Storytelling. [2023] eMental health apps are increasingly being considered for use in health care with growing recognition of the importance of considering end-user preferences in their design and implementation. The key to the success of using apps with Indigenous youth is tailoring the design and content to include Indigenous perspectives. In this study we used a Two-Eyed Seeing perspective to integrate Indigenous and human computer interaction methodologies to identify end-user preferences for a tablet-based mental health screening app used in a primary care clinic serving Indigenous youth.