A web-based supportive intervention for families living with depression: content analysis and formative evaluation

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Caregiver Support

Background:

• Family members of individuals with mental illness face unique burdens.
• A web-based tool was developed to provide support, including psychoeducation, a diary, and a forum, for relatives of those with depression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how relatives utilized a specific web-based support tool.
• To evaluate the potential health and psychosocial benefits derived from the tool, particularly its online forum.

Main Methods:

• An explorative open trial involved 25 participants.
• Data collected included caregiver burden (Carer QoL7-D, CarerQoL-VAS), stigma (DISC-12), usability (System Usability Scale), and forum content analysis.

Main Results:

• Most participants reported fulfillment but also faced relational and personal mental health challenges.
• Significant stigma and discrimination were reported, impacting social and professional life.
• The web-based tool's usability was rated moderately (mean 61.5/100), with forum analysis revealing key caregiver concerns.

Conclusions:

• Web-based tools show potential for supporting relatives of those with mental illness.
• Further research is necessary to optimize these digital interventions.
• Incorporating professional feedback could enhance online community engagement and effectiveness.