i-Minds Feasibility Clinical Trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
i-Minds: A digital intervention to improve mental health and interpersonal resilience in young people who have experienced online sexual abuse: a non-randomised feasibility study with a mixed-methods design.
IRAS ID
301517
Contact name
Sandra Bucci
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 0 days
Research summary
Summary
Online sexual abuse (OSA) of young people (YP) has increased, can have serious effects on YP's development and mental health, and has become an important priority for health and social care services. YP can report this abuse to government agencies and social media companies, but there are currently few tried and tested or helpful treatments available. The NHS urgently needs an accessible intervention to support YP who have experienced OSA (YP-OSA).
We are currently working in partnership with YP, caregivers and professionals to develop an app that: i) YP find easy to use, ii) has a positive effect on YP’s mental health, interpersonal resilience and wellbeing, and helps them stay safe on the Internet, and iii) could be used in the context of NHS and online services that already provide mental health and / or sexual abuse support to YP. In this study, we will ask 60 YP-OSA to use an app designed to help YP better mentalise in the online environment. This feasibility clinical trial will allow us to test whether YP actually use and like using the app and if it is safe to use. They will also be asked to complete questionnaires about their well-being at different time points in the study to monitor whether the app was helpful.
In addition, we will interview: i) 20 YP who took part in the trial to find out what they liked/did not like about the digital intervention, what improvements we can make; and ii) 30 professionals to understand how the digital intervention could be used in existing NHS and online services. We will share findings as widely as possible, including YP themselves, caregivers, mental health services, police, schools and education services, industry and voluntary sector organisations, and the general public.
Summary of Results
"Why did we do this project?
We know that the number of young people who have experienced unwanted technology assisted sexual experiences has increased, but there are no specific treatments to support young people who have had these experiences. We wanted to develop a digital health intervention (the i-Minds app) in partnership with young people who have had unwanted technology assisted sexual experiences and test whether using the app improves their well-being and helps prevent them from being harmed in this way in the future.What did we do?
In partnership with healthcare professionals and people with lived experience of technology assisted sexual abuse, we developed the i-Minds app. Between May 2022 and March 2023, 43 young people aged between 12 and 18 years agreed to use the app. During the study, we collected information about young people’s health, mental health and well-being, how young people used the app, and whether it was safe to use. We also talked to young people who took part in the study and healthcare professionals who supported the study to see what they thought about both the app and our study procedures and how these could be improved, as well as issues to consider to scale up access to helpful digital health interventions for young people who have had unwanted technology assisted sexual experiences.What did we find?
We found that young people used, and liked using, the i-Minds app. The app was safe to use, and taking part in a study about technology assisted sexual abuse was also safe. Young people said that the app seemed to help them feel better able to manage their mental health difficulties. Clinicians also found value in the app and said that they would value more training on how to work with young people who have experienced technology assisted sexual abuse; in particular, guidance on how to ask young people about their online interactions and how to support young people who are distressed following these unwanted interactions.What does this mean for young people who have experienced unwanted sexual experiences online?
A digital health intervention could be helpful in supporting young people who have experienced technology assisted sexual abuse. An app may be more useful for young people who have not had the opportunity to access other support, including support from mental health services. Clinicians need more support and training in understanding technology assisted sexual abuse and the impact it can have on young people. Support is also needed for organisations if a digital health intervention like i-Minds is to be introduced into clinical practice."REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
21/WS/0160
Date of REC Opinion
9 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion