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Research > Mental Health and the Perceived Usability of Digital Mental Health Tools Among Essential Workers and People Unemployed Due to COVID-19 (MHAPPS)

Mental Health and the Perceived Usability of Digital Mental Health Tools Among Essential Workers and People Unemployed Due to COVID-19 (MHAPPS)

At a glance

Funded by: NIMH
Principal Investigator(s): Felicia Mata-Greve Kate Comtois
Research Team:
Participating Agencies:
Research Setting: Online
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About

This study aimed to document the extent of digital mental health tool (DMHT) use by essential workers and those unemployed due to COVID-19. 1987 people were recruited and were asked participants to rate the usability and user burden of the DMHT they used most to cope. We also explored which aspects and features of DMHTs were seen as necessary for managing stress during a pandemic by having participants design their own ideal DMHT.

In the second part of the study, participants were randomized to 1 of 4 free commercial mobile apps for managing distress that were (1) highly rated by PsyberGuide and (2) met the criteria for intervention features these participants indicated were desirable in a previous survey. Participants used the apps for 4 weeks and completed baseline and 4-week self-assessments of depression, anxiety emotional regulation, and suicide risk.

Outcomes

  • 14.2% of participants used a digital mental health tool to cope with COVID related stress.
  • When the sample was provided the option to build their own DMHT, the most desired features were a combination of mindfulness/meditation (1271/1987, 64.0%), information or education (1254/1987, 63.1%), distraction tools (1170/1987, 58.9%), symptom tracking for mood and sleep (1160/1987, 58.4%), link to mental health resources (1140/1987, 57.4%), and positive psychology (1131/1986, 56.9%)
  • We found no significant differences between the 4 apps that participants were assigned to in any outcome.
  • In a secondary analysis of this sample focusing on three suicide theories, we found:
    • Perceived burdensomeness but not thwarted belongingness predicted suicide risk (Interpersonal Theory of Suicidal Behavior).
    • Idioms of distress and cultural sanctions predicted suicide risk while minority stress and social discord did not (Cultural Model of Suicide).
    • In cross-sectional analysis, both defeat and entrapment predicted suicide risk with partial mediation of defeat through entrapment. In cross-lagged analysis, defeat predicted entrapment, but entrapment did not predict defeat (Integrated Motivational-Volitional Model of Suicidal Behavior).

Citations

  • Mata-Greve, F., Johnson, M., Pullmann, M. D., Friedman, E. C., Fillipo, I. G., Comtois, K. A., & Arean, P. (2021). Mental Health and the Perceived Usability of Digital Mental Health Tools Among Essential Workers and People Unemployed Due to COVID-19: Cross-sectional Survey Study. JMIR Mental Health, 8(8), e28360. https://doi.org/10.2196/28360
  • Comtois, K., Mata-Greve, F., Johnson, M., Pullmann, M., Mosser, B., & Arean, P. (2022). Effectiveness of Mental Health Apps for Distress during COVID-19 in U.S. Unemployed and Essential Workers: A Remote Pragmatic Clinical Trial. JMIR mHealth and uHealth. https://doi.org/10.2196/41689
  • Mata-Greve, F., Johnson, M., & Blanchard, B. E. (2022). A Longitudinal Examination of Cultural Risk Factors of Suicide and Emotion Regulation. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 92(5), 635–645. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000629
  • Comtois, K. A., Rogers, A. H., Smythe, P., & Mosser, B. (2025). Empirical evaluation of three 21st century suicide theories: Interpersonal theory of suicide, cultural model of suicide, and the integrated motivational-volitional model. Journal of Affective Disorders, 119400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119400