Improving mental health support for youth in schools in Sierra Leone using mobile technology
Advancing mHealth-supported Adoption and Sustainment of an Evidence-based Mental Health Intervention for Youth in a School-based Delivery Setting in Sierra Leone
This study is testing a mental health program for young people in schools in Sierra Leone to see if training teachers and using mobile tools can help them provide better support after school.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10877804 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on implementing the Youth Readiness Intervention (YRI), a mental health program designed for young people, in schools across Sierra Leone. It aims to enhance the delivery of this intervention by training teachers to provide support and using mobile health (mHealth) tools for supervision and monitoring. The program will be delivered as an afterschool activity, with teachers receiving either mobile phone-supported supervision or traditional in-person guidance. The use of technology, such as WhatsApp and a dedicated mHealth app, will help ensure the quality and effectiveness of the intervention.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and young adults in Sierra Leone who are experiencing mental health challenges.
Not a fit: Patients outside of Sierra Leone or those not in the school system may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve mental health outcomes for youth in Sierra Leone by providing accessible and effective support in their school environment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in using mobile technology to enhance mental health interventions in low-resource settings, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desrosiers, Alethea — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Desrosiers, Alethea
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 below.