Exploration and evaluation of body appreciation: A Mindhelper study
Background
More young people in Denmark experience dissatisfaction with their daily lives and report high levels of loneliness, low well-being, sleep disturbances, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although young people are said to have the highest prevalence of mental health problems compared to other age groups, fewer than half of those with mental health issues seek professional help. Concerns about stigmatization and confidentiality, difficulties navigating existing healthcare services, and a preference for informal sources of help are among the many barriers to seeking help among young people.
Online platforms to promote mental health have the potential to address some of these mental health challenges among young people. One such platform is Mindhelper.dk, which is designed to serve as an initial step in a stepped-care model aimed at addressing the challenges faced by primary care in delivering timely, coordinated, effective, and impactful services to young individuals. Evaluating the effectiveness of Mindhelper.dk is critical to achieving these goals.
The ongoing Mindhelper Study is tasked with assessing the impact of Mindhelper.dk and exploring how it can improve young people's well-being by providing access to online resources, self-help tools, and counseling. Additionally, the study aims to assess the feasibility of recruiting young people showing early signs of mental health problems through online platforms and randomizing them to either use Mindhelper.dk or not.
Mindhelper.dk is a freely accessible online platform dedicated to promoting young people's mental health in Denmark. Mindhelper.dk was developed in collaboration between the Center for Digital Psychiatry, young people, and four Danish municipalities. The website offers information, self-help resources, and guidance tailored to the needs of young people. Although Mindhelper.dk does not provide direct therapeutic interventions, the platform focuses on equipping users with evidence-based coping strategies and tools, primarily drawn from cognitive approaches, including mindfulness exercises. Additionally, it serves as a comprehensive national hub that connects individuals with local mental health services for further support.
Purpose of the project
The aim of the project is to evaluate a short Danish version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2, examine the effect of Mindhelper.dk on young people's body appreciation, and explore the relationship between body appreciation and well-being over time.
Project title: Exploring and evaluating body appreciation in the Mindhelper study
