Digital Mental Health Interventions for Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Global Mental Health
• Digital Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are crucial for addressing adolescent mental health challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• The Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage emphasize the need for accessible mental health solutions.
• Understanding engagement factors for DMHIs in adolescents within LMICs is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
• To identify the current landscape, including design, evaluation, barriers, and facilitators of DMHIs for adolescent mental health in LMICs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) for literature published between January 2019 and March 2024.
• Included studies focusing on adolescents, digital mental health interventions, and low- and middle-income country contexts.

Main Results:

• Analyzed 20 papers on DMHIs for adolescent mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, and suicide ideation.
• Interventions varied in format (group, self-guided) and delivery support (professional, lay professionals).
• Study designs included randomized controlled trials, mixed methods, and feasibility studies.

Conclusions:

• The research on DMHIs for adolescents in LMICs is advancing but remains limited.
• Knowledge gaps exist regarding long-term clinical benefits, digital infrastructure readiness, cultural appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness.
• Future research should prioritize large-scale, co-designed, and culturally sensitive DMHI trials in LMICs.