A Novel Peer-to-Peer Coaching Program to Support Digital Mental Health: Design and Implementation

Abstract

Many individuals in need of mental health services do not currently receive care. Scalable programs are needed to reduce the burden of mental illness among those without access to existing providers. Digital interventions present an avenue for increasing the reach of mental health services. These interventions often rely on paraprofessionals, or coaches, to support the treatment. Although existing programs hold immense promise, providers must ensure that treatments are delivered with high fidelity and adherence to the treatment model. In this paper, we first highlight the tension between the scalability and fidelity of mental health services. We then describe the design and implementation of a peer-to-peer coach training program to support a digital mental health intervention for undergraduate students within a university setting. We specifically note strategies for emphasizing fidelity within our scalable framework, including principles of learning theory and competency-based supervision. Finally, we discuss future applications of this work, including the potential adaptability of our model for use within other contexts.

Personalized mood prediction from patterns of behavior collected with smartphones

“…Briefly, participants are initially assessed using the Computerized Adaptive Testing Depression Inventory 30 (CAT-DI), an online adaptive tool that offers validated assessments of depression severity (measured on a 0–100 scale). After the initial assessment, participants are routed to appropriate treatment resources depending on depression severity: those with mild (35 ≤ CAT-DI < 65) to moderate (65 ≤ CAT-DI < 75) depression at baseline received online support with or without peer coaching 31 while those with severe depression (CAT-DI ≥ 75) received in-person care from a clinician (see Methods).…”

Human-Computer Interaction in Digital Mental Health

“…There is increasing use of peer support workers, but it is not yet known if this approach can successfully blend with clinical support and engagement [71]. A scalable peer-to-peer paraprofessional training and supervision program in an American university setting demonstrated reliability, replicability, and adaptability for supporting CBT delivery in a hybrid model of care [72].…”

Adapting and Implementing Apps for Mental Healthcare

“…A new potential which may be tapped to increase the uptake of mental health apps in specific mental healthcare settings may be peer-to-peer support, which was shown to be effective in an undergraduate student program to support digital mental health [68].…”