SELFIE intervention
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effectiveness and public health impact of SELFIE, a transdiagnostic, blended ecological momentary intervention for improving self-esteem in young people exposed to childhood adversity: a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study in 6 European countries
IRAS ID
364308
Contact name
Sian Lowri Griffiths
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
101156514, EU funding grant number
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The SELFIE study is part of YouthReach, an EU-funded programme evaluating three complementary interventions—YEAH, SELFIE, and MOST—that together aim to improve mental health and wellbeing among young people aged 14–25 who have experienced adversity in childhood.
Within this wider programme SELFIE focuses on strengthening self-esteem. SELFIE itself is a six-week digital and face-to-face programme designed to help young people improve their self-esteem. It is aimed at adolescents and young adults who have experienced difficult or adverse events during childhood and now struggle with low self-esteem.
The intervention is a blended Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) combining support from trained professionals with interactive activities delivered through a smartphone app (which includes a mood diary). The app acts as an investigational device and is used alongside usual care.
Participants use the SELFIE app several times a day to record their mood and experiences in real time (aka the mood diary). They receive personalised feedback to help them understand emotional patterns and behaviours. The app also provides short exercises that encourage participants to notice positive experiences, recognise personal strengths, and practise ways of dealing with criticism and perfectionism.
Alongside app use, participants have 4 sessions with a trained mental-health professional—either in person or online—to introduce and support use of the app tools, followed by a final feedback session. Between sessions, they receive three supportive emails to answer questions and maintain motivation.
SELFIE aims to strengthen positive self-beliefs and improve emotional wellbeing in young people who have faced early life challenges, while contributing to the broader YouthReach goal of developing effective, scalable mental-health support across Europe.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
25/WS/0191
Date of REC Opinion
12 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion