A Collaborative Digital Mental Health Service for Teens and Adults with Depression and Anxiety
Official title: A Synergistic Digital Mental Health Platform for Depression and Anxiety
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11330098 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A digital mental health platform called COMPASS will be created to help adolescents and adults manage depression and anxiety through easy-to-use online tools and text-based support.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $784,866 |
| NIH project number | 2P50MH119029-05A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330098 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents (e.g., 13–18) and adults (18+), including lower-income individuals who seek online mental health support.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking in-person care only or those not comfortable with online interventions may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project designs a cohesive online mental health service that combines short, proven interventions with ongoing text-message support for teens and adults. It uses user-centered design with input from people who would use the service to tailor content for different ages, genders, and income levels. The work will partner with a national advocacy group to ensure the platform can be sustained and scaled nationwide after verification and initial testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, COMPASS could provide accessible, scalable online support for depression and anxiety across a broad age range and diverse backgrounds.
How similar studies have gone: Digital DMH tools with tailored content and sustained engagement have shown promise in improving mood and access to care.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schleider, Jessica Lee — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Schleider, Jessica Lee
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.