Improving mental health care for underserved youth using digital tools
Official title: Supporting Mental Health in Underserved Youth: Engagement with Digital Mental Health Technologies in Pediatric Primary Care
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-10918072 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 13, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $165,995 |
| NIH project number | 5K08MH125069-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10918072 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 from underserved populations, particularly those facing barriers to mental health care.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stiles-Shields, Colleen — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Stiles-Shields, Colleen
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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.