What’s the project?
We know that some young people find digital therapy delivered to their mobile phone helpful. Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London have developed, with input from young people with lived experience, a new supportive digital tool that is based on principles of a type of therapy called solution-focused therapy. Solution-focused therapy focuses on what someone’s hopes are for their future and how we can help them realise those hopes. The team want young people to help test the digital tool they have developed to see if it works and whether young people like using it. If it works and people like using it, the team will aim to improve it further based on people’s feedback and test it in bigger studies with more young people. In the long-term, if the team find it is helpful for young people to use this tool, it could be made available to use.
Find out more
There are two opportunities to get involved in for this study.
- Think Aloud testing
For this part of the study the team are looking for 5 people to come in-person to a session at one of their East London offices to try out using the tool in a one-off, 2-hour testing session. You will be provided with a mobile phone to use for this session. First the team will ask you some questions about how you usually use your mobile phone and text messaging. Then they will begin the Think Aloud activity. ‘Think Aloud’ involves saying out loud any thoughts that come to mind while you use the digital tool. Once you have finished the Think Aloud activity a researcher will ask you how you found using the tool and any final thoughts you’d like to share.
- One-week test
The other opportunity is for 10-15 young people to use the digital tool over one-week so the team can see whether it works over several days and if people like receiving the messages the tool will send. The team can send you a mobile phone and/or SIM card for this study or you can use your own mobile phone. When you begin the study, you will be asked to complete some questionnaires to give a bit of information about you. Then you will have the opportunity to use the digital tool for one week. You will be asked for your feedback at the end of each day on the messages you received from the tool that day. You can provide this feedback by text. At the end of the week, a researcher will contact you to see how you found the study and to organise return of the phone/SIM if you were sent one. They will ask you some questions about how you found using the tool. The team would also like you to complete the same set of questionnaires at the end of the week that you completed at the start of the study.
- 16-25 years of age
- Lived experience of self-harm
- Able and willing to attend a one-off 2-hour session in East London (if taking part in the Think Aloud part)
- No recent suicidal ideation (for the one-week test. This is because at the moment our digital tool is not linked in with clinical services and cannot direct people to them directly if someone needed help)
- Willing to provide details of a clinician or clinical team you are in contact with, your GP, or a parent/guardian. This is so if the team are concerned for your safety they can contact someone to get you the help you might need. The team would always try to contact you first, and would not use these details for any other reason.
A £50 voucher will be offered to young people who take part in either study.
The team will be able to provide reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses for participants who travel to East London for the Think Aloud study. The team will provide a mobile phone to be used in the Think Aloud study that they will collect at the end of the session. The team can provide a mobile phone and/or SIM card to any individuals participating in the one-week test that they will send to you by post. The team will organise for you to return the phone to them at the end of the study by pre-paid post. Links to resources and sources of support will be provided to everyone.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email [email protected] with brief answers to the following questions:
- What is your name?
- What is your age?
- Are you based in the UK?
- Sometimes after talking about topics like mental health, people feel they need a little extra support or someone to chat to. What support do you currently have in place (e.g. supportive friends, family, health professionals or mental health charities)?
- Do you need any additional support to take part in either online or in-person activities?
- How did you hear about this opportunity?
You are welcome to send your responses in audio or video format if preferred. If you need any help completing your expression of interest, you can get in touch with Lauren.
5pm, Thursday 31st July 2025
Please note that the McPin Foundation regularly promotes opportunities on behalf of other institutions; we are not responsible for the continuation or contents of further correspondence with any project partners where we are not listed as the project main point of contact.
