Navigating Life Service 
GVGP/Mobiletype Research Program
The Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Royal Children’s Hospital have developed a mobile phone program, called Mobiletype. Mobiletype is a youth-friendly, innovative mobile phone mental health assessment and management tool which assesses young people’s mood and associated symptoms/behaviours daily. The mobiletype program produces individualised reports, available on the Internet for general practitioners (GPs), about a young person’s functioning, complete recommendations of intervention strategies and referrals, drawing upon best practice principles in the treatment and management of adolescent mental health.
In collaboration with the Goulburn Valley Division of General Practice (GVGP) the Centre for Adolescent Health are conducting a randomised controlled trial across Victoria of 200 patients to trial the mobiletype program. Michelle Eldridge, a Provisional Psychologist with the Navigating Life Program, is conducting the research for Shepparton. Michelle’s role as Researcher is to work with and support the mobiletype Director, Dr Sophie Reid, and her PHD student/colleague Sylvia Kauer, on the mobiletype mental health monitoring system.
The project’s target is to capture 40 young people within the Shepparton area. Currently, we have only recruited 15 young people and would like to encourage more GPs and their patients to be involved to assist with reaching our target. The young people who meet the criteria for the program will be aged between 14 and 24 years with a mild to moderate mental health issue. The Doctors are invited to briefly introduce the study to their patients and direct any interested young people to Michelle at GVGP, Navigating Life, where the study will be explained in greater detail. Patients who agree to participate will be lent a mobile phone between two to four weeks, to monitor their daily experiences. The monitoring program self-initiates 4 times a day to assess the young person’s activities, stresses and other behaviours as they occur. Participants will complete the program until their next appointment with the GP when the feedback regarding mood, symptoms and associated behaviours, will be reviewed, complete with graphical interpretations and easy to read tables.
This program provides GPs with more accurate and detailed information about their patients’ health and allows participants to do so in confidence and by familiar means. We hope that the success of this study will promote future utilization of the mobiletype program to tackle adolescent health in primary care in rural and remote areas. We look forward to receiving further interest from GPs, youth services and young people. Details can also be viewed on the website (www.mobiletype.com.au). We welcome those who might be interested to contact Michelle Eldridge, Researcher, at GVGPs Navigating Life on 5831 5730, or Dr Sophie Reid on 9345 7913 at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne.
Why focus on adolescent depression?
- Leading cause of disability by 2020 (WHO)
- 30% of adolescents (Patton et al., 2003)
- Prognosis: Adolescent depression associated with lifelong recurrent depression (Kessler et al., 1994)
- 15% depressed adolescents attempt suicide (Goodwin & Jamison, 1990)
- Delay treatment => poorer prognosis (Rickwood et al., 1994)
Today’s young people: Technology savvy
- Young people report “living” online.
- 95% own a mobile - Favourite accessory
- Integral part of social network
- Mobiles can record “real-time data”
In Primary Care
- GPs busy
- Mental health assessments are time consuming
- One off = limited information
- Adolescents say “yup” and “nup”
Mobiltetype strategy… a WORLD FIRST
Mobile Phone Mental Health Assessment & Monitoring for Primary Care
- “Mental Health” Monitor
- 2-4 weeks daily mental health assessment
- Feedback
- Guidance
- Clinical resources
A collaboration with Harvard Medical School, Dept. General Practice Univeristy of Melbourne, & The Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU
The Mobiletype Website Interface
Data transmitted from phone to MCRI database
Website produces:
- Individualised reports
- Easy to read graphs on mood, stress, coping, eating & exercise.
- Treatment & management
- suggestions
Website includes:
- Clinical resources
- referral options
- Internet, phone, email, & IM
- counselling sites
Young Person’s Feedback
How well did the mobiletype program capture your:
- Situations & feelings?....84% - good to excellent
Was the information:
- Reflective of your experiences?....95% - yes
- Helpful?....86% - yes
Do you think your doctor:
Understood you better?....78% - yes
Young Peoples’ Report
- Good for communication between doctor & patient
- Helps give insight
Doctor’s Perspective
Was the information reflective of patient's:
- Mood?....88% - reasonably - very well
- Stresses and coping strategies?....83% - reasonably - very well
How much did the data assist you to:
Understand the patient’s functioning?....92% - somewhat - a lot
Doctors’ Report
- Easy to understand & simple to use
- Time saving & efficient
- Narrows discussion to most important concerns
- Patient’s own data
What do GPs need to do?
- Briefly introduce to patients:
- Inclusion criteria / medical information
- Book patients in using online booking form
- Review patient’s information (2 - 4 weeks later):
- Log on to website
- Review the data
- Complete follow up feedback form
NEXT STEP – 2010
Provide GPs, health professionals, & young people with the mobiletype Mental Health Assessment Tool
Chief Investigator & Project Director
Dr Sophie Reid
PhD Candidate
Sylvia Kauer
Project Implementation Team
Ms Angela Khor
Mr Alex Crook
Ms Michelle Eldridge
Collaborating Research Team
Prof George Patton, Centre for Adolescent Health, RCH
Dr Lena Sanci, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne
A/Prof Lydia Shrier, Dept of Adolescent Medicine, Harvard
Prof Helen Christensen, Centre for Mental Health Research, ANU
