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Geneva, February 7, 2024 — The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently unveiled insights from a virtual roundtable meeting held on October 4, 2023, which focused on formulating guiding principles for developmentally-appropriate online mental health content targeting young people.
The discussion drew the participation of twenty-two global health experts spanning fields such as digital media, child and adolescent mental health, and suicide prevention. Diverse in gender and hailing from 16 different countries, these experts congregated online to deliberate on strategies for enhancing young people’s mental well-being through digital platforms.
Preceding the meeting, WHO conducted a rapid review encompassing existing literature and insights gathered from focus group discussions with young people. The review sought to discern effective approaches in online content conducive to promoting youth mental health and well-being.
While acknowledging the scarcity of research concerning audiences below the age of 13, the experts primarily directed their attention to adolescents aged 13-17 during the deliberations.
Rather than formulating concrete guidelines, the meeting generated actionable points designed to benefit young people and lay the groundwork for future endeavors in this realm.
Guiding Principles Emerged
Out of the rapid review emerged ten guiding principles for developmentally-appropriate online mental health content. These principles, ranging from emotional relevance to accessibility, were subject to expert evaluation and discussion during the roundtable.
Key Takeaways for Application
Insights from the meeting underscored the significance of acknowledging diverse neurocognitive and developmental profiles among children and adolescents. Furthermore, it highlighted the dearth of evidence concerning younger age groups and lower-income settings, stressing the need for inclusive and staged information dissemination.
Moreover, the meeting emphasized the imperative of adapting principles to accommodate the swiftly evolving digital landscape. It underscored the complementary role of digital platforms in a broader framework of mental health care, promoting help-seeking behavior and integrating online and offline support services.
Challenges and Next Steps
Participants acknowledged the challenges inherent in formulating universally applicable principles, citing cultural diversity, digital inequity, and data privacy concerns. They recognized the necessity of incorporating diverse perspectives and scientific research into content creation while avoiding narratives that could potentially inflict harm or perpetuate stigma.
While the insights gleaned from the meeting represent an initial stride towards supporting young people’s mental health online, WHO underscores the importance of further collaboration and research. Future endeavors may encompass validating content, identifying best practices, and engaging stakeholders to foster the creation and dissemination of developmentally appropriate online mental health resources for youth.
In conclusion, the discourse spurred by the WHO roundtable underscores the importance of thoughtful and collaborative efforts in harnessing digital platforms to bolster youth mental health, recognizing the evolving nature of this imperative endeavor.
The journey towards comprehensive and effective online mental health support for young individuals is just beginning, with WHO and its partners committed to navigating the path ahead.
Access the report here.
