Essential Design Principles for a Family Digital Mental Health Intervention: A Delphi Study

Area of Science:

• Family Therapy
• Digital Mental Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Systemic family therapy focuses on relational health to improve family well-being.
• Digital interventions for family mental health remain largely underexplored.
• Understanding user engagement is crucial for developing effective digital mental health interventions (DMHIs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify core principles facilitating end-user acceptability and engagement with family-focused digital mental health interventions.
• To explore key factors, barriers, and risks influencing family engagement with DMHIs.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi study was employed.
• 18 participants (consumers, family therapists, digital mental health professionals) completed two rounds of online questionnaires.
• Consensus was reached on essential factors for DMHI design.

Main Results:

• Agreement was achieved on 23 essential factors for family DMHI engagement.
• These factors were categorized under four design principles: informed choice, anonymity and privacy, accessibility, and support and connection.
• Findings highlight specific considerations for family-centered digital interventions.

Conclusions:

• The study identified critical design principles for enhancing family engagement in digital mental health interventions.
• These principles are vital for the successful development and implementation of family DMHIs.
• Implications extend to the design of both family-focused and individually focused DMHIs.