Mobile mental health toolkit for teachers and parents in Uganda
Official title: Promoting Mental Health of Teachers and Caregivers using a Personalized mHealth Toolkit in Uganda
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11400924 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone app offering screening, stress-management exercises, and personalized self-help tools for teachers and parents in Uganda with anxiety or depression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $95,592 |
| NIH project number | 3R33MH131041-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400924 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are teachers and parents of young children in Uganda who experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, or high stress and who can access a smartphone.
✕Less likely to help
People with severe psychiatric conditions needing immediate clinical care, those without smartphone or internet access, or those who prefer in-person therapy may not benefit from this app-based approach.
What this research studies
You would use an interactive app called mWEL that screens for anxiety, depression, and stress and then offers tailored self-help content and coping exercises. The project first tested feasibility and then moves to a larger effectiveness phase to see how well the app works in real school communities. The app includes automated decision-support features to guide users to appropriate resources and referrals when needed. The approach is designed to be low-cost and scalable so schools and families can access support without needing many clinical specialists.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help teachers and parents reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve stress management through an affordable, widely available app.
How similar studies have gone: Mobile mental health apps have shown promise in higher-income and some low-resource settings, but this specific approach is relatively untested among teachers and parents in Uganda.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Huang, Keng-Yen — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Huang, Keng-Yen
Related research
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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.