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Implementing a Digital Mental Health Intervention-the Lumi Nova App-to Support Children With Anxiety in Economically
Pauline Whelan1,2, Heidi Tranter2,3, Lesley-Anne Carter4
1Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, The Christabel Pankhurst Institute, Oxford Road, Manchester, M139PT, United Kingdom, 44 161 306 6000.
Insights
A digital mental health app successfully supported children with anxiety in low-income UK areas. This intervention shows promise for improving access to mental health care for disadvantaged youth.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Digital Health Interventions
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Anxiety affects many children globally, with those in economically disadvantaged areas facing greater challenges and limited access to support.
- Existing mental health services in the UK often fail to provide adequate or timely help for children with anxiety.
- There is a critical need for accessible, low-cost, and engaging mental health solutions for children in underserved communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a digital therapeutic, Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage, for children experiencing anxiety in economically disadvantaged regions.
- To explore the implementation of Lumi Nova within a supported delivery model involving mental health teams.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods study design combining quantitative and qualitative data collection.
- Quantitative analysis of recruitment, engagement patterns, and app usage data.
- Qualitative exploration of children's, parents', and practitioners' experiences and perceptions of the Lumi Nova app.
Main Results:
- 113 children consented, with 98 (87%) engaging with the Lumi Nova intervention.
- Children, parents, and practitioners reported positive views of the Lumi Nova app.
- Usage data indicated varied engagement, with 49% completing at least three in-game challenges, suggesting treatment progression.
Conclusions:
- Digital mental health interventions can be effectively deployed in economically disadvantaged areas in the UK to support children with anxiety.
- Common barriers like lack of device access or technical skills were not significant issues in this study.
- Digital mental health tools offer a promising avenue to bridge gaps in mental health provision for disadvantaged populations.
Background:
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems experienced by children worldwide. In the United Kingdom, many children experiencing anxiety do not receive adequate or timely help. Children living in economically disadvantaged areas experience more mental health problems than those living in high-income areas and are less able to engage in activities that can have a positive or protective impact on their mental health. The need for providing low-cost, accessible, and engaging mental health interventions for children living in these areas is high.
Objective:
The study aimed to explore how a digital mental health therapeutic, "Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage" (BfB Labs Ltd), could be used to support children living with anxiety in economically disadvantaged areas.
Methods:
A mixed method study design was used to explore the implementation of Lumi Nova using a supported delivery model with mental health teams based in the North of England. Quantitative data collection on recruitment and engagement patterns were collected and analyzed. Qualitative research explored children's, parents', and practitioners' views and experiences with the Lumi Nova app.
Results:
113 children consented to use Lumi Nova and 98 (87%) accessed the intervention at least once. Qualitative semistructured interviews found that children, their parents, and practitioners viewed the Lumi Nova app positively. Quantitative analysis of the recruitment data suggested the feasibility of a future larger roll-out. Analysis of usage data demonstrated varied patterns of engagement with the intervention. The frequency and duration of usage varied across children, as did the activities completed within the game: almost half (49%) completed 3 in-game challenges, indicating progression through the treatment pathway.
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated that a digital mental health intervention could be successfully deployed within economically disadvantaged areas in the United Kingdom to support children experiencing anxiety. Expected barriers to the deployment of digital mental health interventions in economically disadvantaged areas (eg, lack of access to smartphones, data plans, and lack of technical skills) were not reported. Digital mental health interventions have the potential to address current gaps in mental health provision for disadvantaged individuals and communities.
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