Improving mental health care for underserved youth using digital tools

Supporting Mental Health in Underserved Youth: Engagement with Digital Mental Health Technologies in Pediatric Primary Care

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10918072

This study is all about making mental health care better for kids aged 0-11 from underserved communities by using digital tools, and it involves working with teens and their families to find out what gets in the way of getting help, so we can create a friendly system that fits their needs right in a Chicago clinic.

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10918072 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on enhancing mental health care for children aged 0-11 from underserved communities by utilizing digital mental health technologies. The project aims to engage with teens and their families to identify barriers to accessing mental health services and to develop a system called the Teen Assess, Check, and Heal (TeACH) System. By collaborating with local families, the research will adapt existing digital tools to better meet the needs of these communities, ensuring that the services are culturally relevant and user-friendly. The implementation will take place in a pediatric primary care clinic in Chicago, aiming to improve the detection and treatment of mental health disorders.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 from underserved populations, particularly those facing barriers to mental health care.

Not a fit: Patients who are not from underserved backgrounds or who do not have access to the targeted pediatric primary care clinic may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to mental health care for underserved youth, leading to better mental health outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using digital technologies to improve mental health care access, indicating that this approach could be effective.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.