Mental Health and General Well-being

Parents play an important role in supporting their children's mental health but often feel unsure how to respond to emotional or mental health difficulties. To address this need, the PsyGes project developed the Youngsters Upbringing Mental Health Information and Counselling App (YOUCA), a smartphone app that provides parents with information, practical guidance, daily tips, communication strategies, a mental health glossary, and a directory of support services. This study aims to evaluate the usability and potential effectiveness of YOUCA in improving parenting skills and parental self-efficacy (confidence in supporting a child). In this mixed-methods randomized waitlist-controlled pilot study, approximately 25 parents of children with mental health difficulties will participate. Participants will use the app over a four-week period and complete questionnaires before and after use. App usability and satisfaction will also be assessed. Interviews with parents and a focus group with psychosocial experts will provide additional feedback to support further app development and future larger-scale evaluation.

This study is testing whether a short, daily, app-based meditation can help young adults feel better in their everyday lives. We will invite about 354 adults between 18 and 40 years old who live in the United States to join. Everyone who joins will be randomly placed into one of three groups for 4 weeks: Intervention group will do a 7-minute Miracle of Mind meditation each day using a phone app. Active comparator group will listen to a neutral 7-minute audio lesson each day. Control group will continue their usual daily routine without adding anything new. All participants will answer short online surveys at the start and several times during the 4 weeks, sharing how they feel about their mood, stress, anxiety, overall well-being, and mindfulness. Participants who already wear a smartwatch (like a Fitbit or Apple Watch) can choose to share their heart rate-related data so we can see whether the meditation might also affect physical signs of stress. Investigators will compare how participants in the three groups change over time to see if the daily 7-minute meditation helps young adults feel better, less stressed, and more emotionally resilient.