Background
Methods
System | Country available | Target group | Psychological difficulties addressed | Psychological technique/intervention used | Additional features | Funding | Mode of delivery | Available as an app | Availability to UK HE students |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Systems that were designed for use by HE students | |||||||||
CALM | Ireland | HE students | Depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, substance abuse and study skills | CBT Mindfulness | (a) Insomnia relief: sleep hygiene and stimulus control techniques (b) Drink and drug wise: tools to help with substance abuse (c) Podcasts covering topics such as diet and exercise | Cost to be covered by HE institution | Interactive multimedia—series of ebooks and colourful worksheets | No | Currently only available at certain HE institutions |
MePlusMe | UK | HE students | Anxiety, stress, depression, low mood, general wellbeing, study skills | CBT Mindfulness | Self-directed skills training via personalized packages of techniques in 2D animated videos | To be confirmed | Multimedia, video, audio, and text | No | Not currently available |
Mindful Kiwi | UK | HE students | Stress, health and wellbeing, study skills, and relationships | Mindfulness | 8 weeks of therapy sessions (online or face to face) | Free | Topic focused guided meditations and group discussions | No | Not currently available |
PLUS | UK | HE students | Depression, anxiety, self-esteem, perfectionism, substance abuse, eating disorders | CBT | Focused modules with text-based exercises | To be confirmed | Text-based modules with photographs and illustrations | No | Not currently available |
Students Against Depression | UK | HE students | Depression, anxiety and suicide | CBT | (a) On campus peer-support programs (b) Blogging | Free | Non-linear text-based modules | No | Currently only available at certain HE institutions |
theDesk | Australia | HE students | Stress, study and time management problems, mental and physical wellbeing | Mindfulness Relaxation | Relationship and health issues | Free | Multimedia modules with video and text | No | Available—registration needed |
Systems that were designed for use by general population or other groups | |||||||||
Beating the Blues | UK | General public | Depression and anxiety | CBT | 8 weeks of online therapy sessions | Requires GP referral | Text-based information and homework | No | Available through primary care physician referral or private subscription |
Big White Wall | UK | General public | Depression, anxiety, and stress | CBT | (a) Advice about abuse, bullying, relationships and lifestyle (b) Peer group support | Free via NHS referral or paid subscription | Text-based information, and community support | Yes | Available through primary care physician referral or private subscription |
e-couch | Australia | General public | Depression, generalised anxiety/worry, social anxiety, relationship breakdown, and loss/grief | CBT IPT | (a) Advice on relaxation and physical activities (b) Self-help toolkit (c) Research platform (d) Internet support groups | Free | Free choice between 5 text-based modules | No | Available |
FearFighter™ | UK | General public | Panic and phobia | CBT | 9 weeks of online therapy sessions | Packages available, starting at £129 | 9 linear sessions, text-based exercises | Yes | Available through paid subscription |
Living life to the full | UK | General public | Depression, anxiety and stress | CBT | (a) 5 weeks of online sessions with recommended self-help books (b) Moderated forum | Free | Text-based sessions, audio and small group discussions | No | Available |
MoodGym | Australia | General public, mainly aimed at young people | Depression and anxiety | CBT | Assertiveness and inter-personal skills training | Free | Linear sequence of 5 modules, text-based sessions | No | Available |
NHS Silvercloud | UK | General public | Depression, anxiety, stress and eating disorders | CBT Mindfulness | (a) Interactive journaling (b) Mood and lifestyle charting (c) Social community (d) Dedicated supporter to monitor progress, and provide guidance | Free via NHS referral | Multimedia interactive modules (text, video and audio clips) | Yes | Available through primary care physician referral |
ReachOut.com | Australia Ireland USA | Young people (15–25 years old) | Depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, substance abuse and study skills | CBT | (a) LGBTQ issues (b) Self-help tool (c) Moderated forum | Free | Text-based information, videos and community engagement | Yes | Available |
Superbetter.com | USA | General public | Physical, social and mental wellbeing | Positive psychology Behaviour change | Physical and social skills (starting from basics, such as drinking more water) | Free | Video game, modules unlocked by completion of tasks within the game | Yes | Available |
UBalancer | Australia | General public | Anxiety, stress, feeling overwhelmed, study and time management | Coaching Mindfulness | Sleeping pattern improvement | Subscription required | Structured coaching telephone calls, plus text-based supporting information | No | Not currently available |
System | Development studies | Effectiveness studies | Oxford CEBM level | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Systems designed for HE students | CALM | None | None to date | Level 5 |
MePlusMe | Development survey (Goozee et al. submitted) Proof of concept [25] | Feasibility study planned (September 2017) | Level 5 | |
Mindful Kiwi | None | Non-randomised pilot [28] | Level 3 | |
PLUS | None | Large RCT (n = 1047) [10] | Level 2 | |
Students Against Depression | None | None to date | Level 5 | |
theDesk | None | None to date | Level 5 | |
Systems designed for the general public or other groups | Beating the Blues | Development and beta-testing study [28] | Level 2 | |
Big White Wall | None | Independent review [38] Cost-effectiveness study [39] Case-study [40] | Level 4 | |
e-couch | None | Small RCT (n = 21) [43] Randomised double-blind (n = 5620) [49] | Level 2 | |
FearFighter™ | None | Pilot study [50] Feasibility study [51] Efficacy study [52] RCT (n = 93) [53] Cost-effectiveness study [54] Feasibility study [55] RCT (n = 35) [56] | Level 3 | |
Living life to the full | None | None | Level 5 | |
MoodGym | None | Patient feedback [62] RCT studying acceptability (n = 106) [68] Meta-analysis [69] | Level 3 | |
NHS Silvercloud | None | RCT effectiveness (n = 188) [76] RCT satisfaction (n = 281) [77] | Level 2 | |
ReachOut.com | None | Case-study [79] | Level 4 | |
Superbetter.com | None | Observational Study [83] | Level 4 | |
UBalancer | None | None | Level 5 |