Acceptability of technologies to detect deteriorating mental health

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    The acceptability of wearables, social media and other technologies to detect deteriorating mental health in young adults

  • IRAS ID

    237538

  • Contact name

    Paul Aylin

  • Contact email

    p.aylin@imperial.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Imperial College London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 26 days

  • Research summary

    There has been very little research with young adults (18-25 years of age) with mental health problems to understand whether the use of wearables (e.g. Fitbits and the Apple Watch), social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) and other technologies (e.g. mobile apps) to detect any worsening of mental health problems is acceptable. For example, whether it would be ok to use a smartphone app to try and see if a young person was becoming more depressed. This project is looking to inform the adoption and/or design of an intervention that would allow young adults to better self-manage their own mental health. The intervention would help them spot when their mental health is deteriorating and when help they might need. The study aim is therefore to explore young people's perspective on whether it is acceptable to use wearables such as Fitbits and the Apple Watch, social media and other technologies can be used to detect any worsening of mental health problems in young adults (18-25 years of age).

  • REC name

    Social Care REC

  • REC reference

    18/IEC08/0004

  • Date of REC Opinion

    26 Feb 2018

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion