YouthCHAT is a version of an NZ-developed case-finding and help assessment tool (eCHAT) that has been adapted for use by young people to identify possible issues related to their mental health, lifestyle, and well-being.
It can help recognise a range of concerns, including:
- Mental Health (Depression, Anxiety, Difficulty with Anger Control, Life Stressors)
- Lifestyle (Problematic Smoking, Vaping, Drinking, Recreational Drug Use, Gambling, Gaming, Exposure to Abuse, Physical Inactivity)
- Other (Behaviour / Conduct, Sexual Identity, Sexual Health, Body Image)
YouthCHAT was initially developed in 2015 for research purposes, and has since been modernised and rolled out into youth health services by Kekeno as of 2021.
We have spent the last few years working alongside Professors Felicity Goodyear-Smith and Jim Warren, along with a team at the Faculty of Medical & Health Science at The University of Auckland to develop YouthCHAT into the great tool it is today! Doctors Rhiannon Martel and Hiran Thabrew have also played a huge part in the development process.
This process has required us to work closely with researchers and professors, to maintain an accurate and validated tool, while also improving user experience, and careful approaches to sensitive topics.
YouthCHAT is currently used in over 100 clinics and schools throughout New Zealand - and is continuing to expand. Notably, Te Whatu Ora, ProCare, Healthwest, Pinnacle Healthcare, and most recently, Starship Children's Hospital are among the organisations utilising YouthCHAT to identify and address the needs of young people.At Kekeno, we are responsible for all aspects of YouthCHAT software, including design and software engineering.
We work closely with The University of Auckland, which owns the rights to the questionnaire IP, to ensure that YouthCHAT remains an accurate and validated tool.
In 2018, a team of researchers from The University of Auckland began the development of a cutting-edge digital tool aimed at improving the mental wellbeing of young people.
The tool incorporates proven strategies designed to assist with stress management, conflict resolution, and the handling of negative thoughts and strong emotions. The team discovered that many young people find it challenging to seek help, prompting them to create a trusted digital tool that provides a safe and comfortable starting point.
Headstrong, as the tool is known, was designed with the unique values and culture of Aotearoa New Zealand in mind, and is user-friendly and engaging.Since 2021, Kekeno has taken the reins as lead tech developers maintaining a chatbot system that’s an accessible and engaging user-centred solution made for today’s teens. A chatbot simulates a conversation and allows people to interact with a digital guide as if they were communicating with a real person.
Headstrong aims to make learning techniques for supporting mental health and wellbeing easy and engaging for young people. Through short interactions with the chatbot, users can access a variety of content, including stories, motivational whakatauki (proverbs), audio tracks, infographics, mini-games, and more, all of which are designed to be relatable and appealing.
Headstrong was developed by a team of experts in digital innovation for youth mental health from the University of Auckland. The tool’s content draws on Māori, Pacific and Western science. The team uses Te Whare Tapa Whā as their holistic wellbeing model.
Headstrong is made possible with the help of Te Whatu Ora, as the funders of this project.
Resilient Teens (HABITs), in collaboration with Kekeno, are working to tackle the issue of mental health challenges among young people. We understand that mental health issues can be challenging, particularly for young people.
Sadly, statistics show that over half of young people never seek professional help for mental health problems.
That's why we're working alongside Māori and Pacific students, schools, and communities to develop a digital platform that offers easy access to evidence-based help and advice, to promote good mental health.
The HABITs team has undertaken over 30 consultations with groups and individuals, ensuring that co-design and community consultation are at the heart of their research theme.
They have developed the first proof of concept prototype of the Healthy Advances through Behavioural Interventions (HABITs) IT platform, and they are currently evaluating an e-screening tool called YouthCHAT with Māori and Pasifika school students.
This tool has the potential to be an alternative or complement to traditional face-to-face screenings (HEEADSSS) in low-decile schools. Additionally, they are refining and testing prototypes of an emotional health Behavioural Intervention Therapy as an Android app.Kekeno's role in this project is pivotal.
We are developing and maintaining not only the HABITs platform, but also some of the applications that integrate with HABITs, including My Mood and Headstrong. We have also created an internal tool that aids researchers hugely in their studies and data collection, by designing surveys for research trials.
IDA (Improving Diagnosis App) is designed to provide regular diagnostic feedback to busy clinicians about patients they have admitted when those patients have subsequently been discharged.
By operating discreetly in the background of an electronic medical record, IDA records the clinician's initial differential diagnoses for a patient's symptoms from an electronic admitting document, and matches them to the patient's discharge diagnosis from the discharge summary. It then closes the diagnostic loop by using the app to alert clinicians about the accuracy of their initial impressions.
Currently, IDA is undergoing a clinical trial that utilises simulated admissions and discharges to assess the viability of app-based solutions for managing patient diagnoses.
The ultimate goal of IDA is to function effortlessly in the background of the electronic medical record system, providing clinicians with valuable insights and feedback that can improve their diagnostic capabilities.
IDA is undergoing research evaluation by Dr. Chang-Ho Yoon, Dr. Nic Szecket, Dr. Art Nahill, and Dr. Chester Holt-Quick, with the help of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) who are the providers of the research grant for this project.Our team here at Kekeno Tech are the brains and talent behind IDA - developing this app from start to finish, including all designs, frontend, and backend development.
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BRO is a mobile safety planning chatbot app that has been specifically designed for New Zealand youth, with a particular focus on Māori and Pacifica ethnicities.
Currently in the research and development stage, BRO has been created in partnership with The University of Auckland's Associate Professor Sarah Hetrick, who has been working closely with a group of five Māori high school students to ensure that the app meets the needs of its target audience.
The boys’ chose the name “BRO” meaning “Bro, Reach Out”, and have chosen a laid back, graffiti style approach to this app. Their aim is to create an inviting and relatable platform that resonates with youth of the same age group, ethnicity, and gender, with the goal of encouraging them to reach out for help when they need it.
Our team is responsible for the development of this app, aswell as the completed designs. We are working hard to incorporate useful features that will benefit youth, and assist in the research project.
BRO's features include a full safety plan that is designed for each individual, a chatbot, a "wall" where youth can document their thoughts, ideas, images and more, and a comprehensive list of New Zealand helplines.
By providing a range of useful tools and resources, BRO aims to make it easier for young people to access the support they need, when they need it most.
In the busy world of mental health research and app development, the need for reliable and simple tools for mood monitoring has never been greater. Researchers constantly seek ways to assess the effectiveness of various mood-tracking applications and interventions. Enter MMCA, short for "Mood Monitoring Control App" - an unassuming yet powerful mood monitoring app designed specifically to serve as a control app in research studies.
The Essence of MMCA
MMCA is not your average mood tracking app. It's intentionally stripped down to its core functionality, focusing solely on mood monitoring without the bells and whistles that other apps might offer. This simplicity is its strength. It provides a neutral baseline that researchers can use as a digital placebo when evaluating the impact of more feature-rich mood monitoring applications.
The Role of MMCA in Research
Comparative Studies:
Research studies often involve testing the effectiveness of various interventions or tools. By utilising MMCA as a constant, researchers can gauge the impact of additional features found in other mood tracking apps. This allows for a controlled comparison, enabling researchers to isolate the specific effects of different app components.
Standardisation:
MMCA offers a standardized environment for mood assessment. This consistency across study participants helps reduce confounding variables and ensures that the comparison is based on the actual differences between interventions, not variations in user experiences.
Minimal Bias:
With its straightforward approach, MMCA minimizes potential bias introduced by engaging features or aesthetically pleasing designs. This supports researchers in obtaining more accurate insights into the core effects of mood tracking.
Accessibility:
MMCA's user-friendly interface ensures that participants of all tech-literacy levels can easily engage with the app. This accessibility is vital for diverse research studies that involve participants from various backgrounds.
Event Data Gathering:
In addition to its simplicity, MMCA offers a valuable benefit in the form of event data gathering. While focusing on mood tracking, the app can also prompt users to input specific events or occurrences that might have influenced their mood changes. This feature allows researchers to correlate external factors with mood fluctuations, providing deeper insights into the complex interplay between daily events and emotional well-being. By seamlessly integrating event data collection into its streamlined interface, MMCA enhances the depth of data available for analysis, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of mood dynamics.
Advantages of Simplicity:
The primary advantage of MMCA's simplicity is its ability to provide a clear baseline for researchers to use as a control arm. When evaluating other apps, researchers can identify the added value that specific features bring to the table. By isolating these features, it becomes easier to determine whether they contribute meaningfully to users' mood tracking experiences.
MMCA, or "Mood Monitoring Control App," stands as an unobtrusive yet crucial tool in the realm of mental health research. Its minimalist approach provides a level playing field for comparing various mood tracking apps and interventions, enabling researchers to draw more accurate conclusions about their effects. As the landscape of mental health apps continues to evolve, MMCA remains steadfast in its role as a reliable benchmark, shedding light on what truly matters in the realm of mood monitoring.
**Tap or hover to view dark mode prototypes
