Developing a Mental Health eClinic to Improve Access to and Quality of Mental Health Care for Young People: Using Participatory Design as Research Methodologies (Preprint)

Abstract

Background: The Mental Health eClinic (MHeC; including health promotion, assessment, screening, triage protocols, treatment via video conferencing, and self-directed mental health support) aims to deliver best practice clinical services to people experiencing mental health problems by breaking down traditional barriers to care and making healthcare more personalised, accessible, affordable and available. Objective: The aim of this study was to use participatory design (PD) methodologies with end-users (young people and youth health professionals) and our research team to develop the MHeC to improve timely access to, and beter quality, mental health care for young people across Australia. Methods: A research and development (R&D) cycle for the co-design and build of the MHeC included several iterative PD phases: PD workshops; knowledge translation of ideas generated during workshops to wireframes; rapid prototyping and one-on-one consultations with end-users, including assessing usability of the alpha build of the MHeC. Results: Four PD workshops with end users and our research team (n=37), four knowledge translation sessions, and one round of one-on-one end-user consultation sessions (n=6) were conducted. The iterative R&D cycle validated five main components of the MHeC for young people: home page and triage system; a comprehensive physical and mental health assessment; a detailed dashboard of results; a booking and video visit system; and, links to apps and etools recommended by youth health professionals. Conclusions:The MHeC presents a technologically-advanced and clinically-efficient system that can be adapted to suit a variety of settings in which there is an opportunity to connect with young people. This will enable many young people, and especially those currently not able or willing to connect to face-to-face services, to receive the right intervention from the right service at the right time.