Mental Health Support for Teens Through an App and Mentors
Digital Delivery of Evidence-Based Mental Health Content and Mentoring to Adolescents
This project offers a smartphone and computer app called Appa Health to help adolescents with their mental well-being by providing skills and guidance from trained mentors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Appa Health INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131063 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Appa Health is a digital program designed for teenagers that combines helpful mental health skills with support from a mentor. You'll get access to short, engaging videos based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that teach you practical ways to manage your thoughts and feelings. Alongside these videos, a trained mentor, who understands what you're going through, will offer guidance and encouragement to help you use these skills in your daily life. This approach aims to make mental health support more accessible and engaging for young people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents who are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety and are open to using a smartphone or computer application for mental health support.
Not a fit: Patients who require intensive, in-person clinical therapy or are not comfortable engaging with digital tools and non-clinical mentors may not find this program beneficial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could provide an accessible and effective way for adolescents to improve their mental health and well-being, especially for those experiencing anxiety or depression.
How similar studies have performed: While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mentorship are established methods for mental health support, this project explores a novel combination of these elements delivered digitally to adolescents.
Where this research is happening
Oakland, United States
- Appa Health INC — Oakland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Williams, Christopher — Appa Health INC
- Study coordinator: Williams, Christopher
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.