MentorHub: A Supportive Accountability Tool for MHapps

项目概要/摘要（30行） 在美国，有1500万儿童和青少年需要心理服务，但只有三分之一的人得到 任何形式的心理服务。接受符合循证指南的护理的人更少 最佳实践。随着COVID-19大流行的负面影响，这一差距急剧扩大。 儿童的心理健康，加上学校心理健康服务的中断。心理健康 应用程序（MHapps）显示出早期的承诺，以减轻轻度至中度形式的情绪障碍，如焦虑， 抑郁症，同时改善更广泛的功能领域，包括学术参与和社会 能力。这些MHapps旨在通过提供有针对性的，基于技能的 以互动和无障碍的形式提供课程。不幸的是，MHapps的潜力到目前为止还很有限 参与度低、使用不当和未完成率高。 有爱心的成年人可以通过行为科学家所称的 “支持性责任”--即定期检入、监控、故障排除和其他交互。 几项研究强调了支持性问责制与用户 参与度、登录次数、交互式工具的使用和结果。事实上，他们已经证明， 在指导下，技术提供的干预措施的效果与面对面获得的效果相当 干预措施。相比之下，自我指导计划产生的效益相对较少。此外，研究 研究人员发现，当年轻人得到临床医生的支持时，与日常护理的成年人相比，结果没有差异。 基于电子卫生干预措施的有效性和坚持性通过人力支持得到加强的证据， 我们开发了一个软件框架（MentorHub），用于协调部署和监控 基于证据的MHapps我们预计MentorHub将广泛用于青年服务组织（例如， 青年辅导计划）和学校为基础的设置（例如，中学和中学后学校）。 第I阶段的拟议研究将进一步（目标1）完善MentorHub产品，以确定可用性（UI/UX） 在一个大型的青年指导计划中的可行性;以及（目标2）确定产品对青年的影响 心理健康结果（心理疾病风险的跨诊断指标，内化和外化 青年功能学和更广泛的青年功能指标）。RCT试验研究将测试短期 在全国青年辅导组织（大哥哥大姐妹篇纽约）中， 300名参与者（75名导师-学员对/二人组被随机分配到测试组，75名导师-学员 随机分配到对照组的成对/二对）。到第一阶段结束时，我们将有一个经过测试的产品， 全国测试跨越老大哥大姐妹篇地点和新的学校为基础的设置。在阶段结束时 第二，我们期待一个功能齐全的和评估的产品准备商业化。

Project Summary/Abstract (30 lines) In the United States, 15 million children and adolescents need psychological services; yet only one-third receive psychological services of any kind. Even fewer receive care that is consistent with evidence-based guidelines for best practices. This gap has widened dramatically with the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of children, combined with disruptions to school-based mental health services. Mental Health Apps (MHapps) show early promise to alleviate mild to moderate forms of emotional disorders like anxiety and depression, while improving broader domains of functioning, including academic engagement and social competence. These MHapps are designed to promote youth mental health by delivering targeted, skills-based curricula in an interactive and accessible format. Unfortunately, the potential for MHapps has thus far been limited by low engagement, improper use, and high rates of noncompletion. Caring adults can help boost youth engagement in MHapps through what behavioral scientists refer to as “supportive accountability”—that is, regular check-ins, monitoring, troubleshooting, and other interactions. Several studies have highlighted the positive associations between supportive accountability and user engagement, number of logins, use of interactive tools, and outcomes. In fact, they have shown that, with guidance, the effects of technology-delivered interventions are comparable to those obtained in face-to-face interventions. By contrast, self-guided programs have yielded relatively fewer benefits. Moreover, the studies have found no difference in outcomes when youth were supported by clinicians versus everyday caring adults. Based on evidence that effectiveness and adherence to eHealth interventions is enhanced by human support, we developed a software framework (MentorHub) that coordinates the deployment and monitors the use of evidence-based MHapps. We anticipate that MentorHub will be widely used in youth-serving organizations (e.g., youth mentoring programs) and school based settings (e.g., secondary and post-secondary schools). The proposed research in Phase I will further (Aim 1) refine the MentorHub Product to establish usability (UI/UX) and feasibility in a large, youth mentoring program; and (Aim 2) determine the impact of the Product on youth mental health outcomes (transdiagnostic indicators of risk for mental illness, internalizing and externalizing symptomatology, and broader indicators of youth functioning). The pilot RCT study will test the short-term efficacy of the product in a national youth mentoring organization (Big Brothers Big Sisters New York) and involve 300 participants (75 mentor-mentee pairs/dyads randomized to the test group and 75 mentor-mentee pairs/dyads randomized to the control group). By the end of Phase I, we will have a tested product ready for national testing across Big Brother Big Sisters locations and in new school-based settings. By the end of Phase II, we anticipate a fully functioning and evaluated product ready for commercialization.