SMILE Proof-of-concept Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SMILE: Supporting Mental Health in Young People: Integrated Methodology for cLinical dEcisions and evidence-based interventions – Proof-of-concept study
IRAS ID
349183
Contact name
Matthias Schwannauer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
A substantial portion - approximately 70% - of mental health problems are established before the age of 24. Once developed, they can have lasting, detrimental effects on the person's whole life. Thus, mental health of young people is a major public health challenge that requires attention and action. Digital interventions are effective in addressing depression and anxiety symptoms, although this effectiveness relies on intervention adherence and engagement. Gamification is a promising avenue for increasing engagement and adherence and thus increasing intervention effectiveness.
The EU Horizon funded SMILE project aims to promote resilience in young people via a gamified platform (a game app for smartphones) based on cognitive behavioural interventions. The game seeks to prevent and improve symptoms of anxiety and depression in young people aged 10 to 24, by enhancing key psychological factors, such as cognitive flexibility, self-efficacy, critical thinking, self-regulation. This game will be delivered alongside by the companion app which uses a digital diary technique to monitor young people's mental states, moods and emotions. Through the companion app, participants will receive personalised feedback for self-monitoring purposes.
We will ask 50 young people in receipt of mental health care in NHS Lothian to use the SMILE apps. This proof-of-concept study will allow us to test the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. They will also be asked to complete questionnaires about their wellbeing at different time points to monitor whether the intervention was helpful. We will interview 10 young people who completed the study to understand their opinions about the intervention and what improvements can we make. We will also reach out to 10 parents whose children completed the study and 10 clinicians, and invite them to take part in the interviews to understand how the digital intervention could be used across different domains of a young person's life.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
25/WS/0040
Date of REC Opinion
25 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion