mHealth dashboard to support family mental health in Rwanda and beyond
Official title: An mHealth Digital Dashboard for Quality Delivery of Evidence-based Interventions Promoting Family Mental Health and Functioning in Rwanda. A Hybrid Type III Study with Insights for the US
Funded at Boston College · NIH-11590765 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone-based dashboard helps deliver a proven family-based mental health program in Rwanda, making it easier to keep families engaged and ensure high-quality care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chestnut Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 2, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $54,203 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH136200-03S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11590765 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with children aged 0-11 and adults (caregivers) in settings affected by conflict or violence, starting with Rwanda and potentially expanding to other regions.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not currently engaged with the Sugira Muryango program or without access to compatible mobile technology may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a digital dashboard to monitor how well Sugira Muryango is delivered in real-world settings in Rwanda, while also offering insights that could inform care in the United States. It combines a trauma-informed family intervention with data tools to track quality, reach, and referrals for caregiver mental health and services. If successful, families in diverse regions could receive timely support and clinicians could maintain high fidelity to the intervention through the training resources in the platform.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families may experience reduced stress and better child development through improved parenting practices and enhanced access to mental health resources.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials of Sugira Muryango showed improvements in parental mental health, child development, and reductions in family violence, suggesting potential for positive impact with added digital support.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Betancourt, Theresa Stichick — Boston College
- Study coordinator: Betancourt, Theresa Stichick
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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.