JoyPop Mobile Mental Health App With Youth

Youth in Canada are in need of novel, innovative approaches to support their mental health and wellbeing. Within this age group, research suggests rates of several mental health difficulties and related hospitalizations have increased over recent decades. These challenges are exacerbated in rural communities, such as in Northwestern Ontario, where youth access mental health services less frequently and face longer wait times than those in more urban areas. Such limited access and extended waits can exacerbate symptoms, prolong distress, and increase the risk for adverse outcomes. In partnership with St. Joseph Care Group and Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, the investigators are evaluating the impact of a mental health app (JoyPop) as a tool for youth waiting for mental health services. The JoyPop app was developed to support improved emotion regulation - a fundamental difficulty for youth presenting with mental health challenges and an ability still undergoing maturation during this developmental period. A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the app compared to usual practice while youth aged 12-17 are waiting for mental health services.