Exploring the Feasibility of Incorporating Smartphone-Based Mental Health Support Into Youth Mentoring Programs: A...

To explore the advantages and barriers to integrating digital mental health interventions into youth mentoring programs, thematic analysis was applied to interviews with mentors, mentees, and program managers within two large mentoring programs that had recently begun using a smartphone app that allows mentors to assess and address mentees' mental health needs. Three themes (i.e., connectivity/targeted support, ease of communication, and relationship building) illustrated the potential advantages of using technology-based mental health supports. One theme highlighted the ways that variability in user engagement moderates the beneficial impact of these interventions. Finally, two themes identified technical issues and the need for additional training in using digital interventions as areas for improving the deployment of this type of tool. Use of digital mental health interventions in youth-facing community programs has the potential to dramatically expand access to evidence-based support for vulnerable youth, but requires adequate training and support.