Grant: CIHR Fellowship

In response to the COVID-19 directives that have limited in-person health care interactions, many health services have pivoted towards the provision of digital health interventions (DHIs) (e.g., web-based platforms). Concurrently, emerging evidence indicates that COVID-19 and associated measures are negatively impacting mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety) and substance use-related harms (e.g., substance use disorder) among young adults (ages 18-29). New evidence is needed to inform DHIs that can best address the mental health and substance use-related health needs of youth. The proposed international mixed-methods study will investigate youths' experiences with and access of DHIs in Canada and France in the context of COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The objectives are to: 1. Document and inventory the 'state' of existing, emerging and evolving DHIs that seek to address the mental health and substance use-related health needs of youth. 2. Characterize the experiences and perspectives of youth and health providers to understand how various individual, social, and structural factors influence experiences with and access to DHIs for youth. 3. Identify how DHIs can best be adapted to optimize positive health outcomes and reduce health inequities among youth. The proposed study will begin with a scoping review to inventory existing DHIs regarding mental health and substance use for youth in Canada and France (Objective 1). A series of online surveys and qualitative interviews will be conducted in each country to characterize the experiences of youth and providers with DHIs (Objective 2). Two World Cafés in each country will be organized with youth, providers and policy makers to identify recommendations for DHIs (Objective 3). This study will generate context-sensitive and population-specific data to identify strategies to reduce negative health outcomes and health inequities among young adults within and after the COVID-19 pandemic.