Bakhti R, Daler H, Ogunro H, Hope S, Hargreaves D, Nicholls D. Exploring Engagement With and Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in Young People of Different Ethnicities: Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2025;27:e68544. doi:10.2196/68544
In this systematic review, studies published between January 2019 and May 2024 (with an update in September 2024) were examined for the effectiveness and engagement of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for young people of different ethnicities. Primary research papers were included if they included a DMHI, targeted people under the age of 25, and assessed the experiences of individuals of different ethnicities using the DMHI. A total of seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Two studies explored engagement, three studied effectiveness, and two examined both engagement and effectiveness. All of the DMHIs were web-based and most were grounded in CBT (4/7). Content rated as culturally relevant and low-cost options were associated with higher engagement and improved psychosocial outcomes. Cultural tailoring and near-peer mentorship also increased effectiveness outcomes on measures of depression, anxiety, and general well-being. A lack of language adaptability, cost, and cultural relatability were barriers to effectiveness and engagement among minorities, especially non-native English speakers. This review also provides individual summaries of the seven included papers. The collective findings suggest that cost-effective, culturally tailored DMHIs are effective and engaging for young people of different ethnicities. Given the low number of studies meeting the inclusion criteria, it is clear more research is needed on the effectiveness and engagement outcomes of DMHIs targeting young people of various ethnicities.