1 - (SYM 70) Mental Health Is Something We Don't Talk About in My Community: Increasing Access to Care for Teens via Digital Mental Health Tool Adaptation and Implementation into Primary Care

Purpose: Pediatric primary care is a centralized and low-stigmatized setting, and might be an ideal environment to engage and screen teens with socially complex needs (SCN; i.e., facing overlapping adversities including systemic racism, living in low resourced areas). Yet, primary care clinics have increasingly low bandwidth to support the mental health of their pediatric patients, particularly in spaces with few referral options. As such, implementing digital mental health tools (DMH) into primary care may promote mental healthcare while limiting additional burdens on the health system. The purpose of the current research is to present collaborative efforts with teens, caregivers, and pediatric primary care clinics to increase engagement with DMH in pediatric primary care settings, with the broader goal of increasing access to mental health screening and referral options for teens with SCN.

Methods: The Teen Assess, Check, and Heal (TeACH) System harnesses existing mental health screening (computerized adaptive tests) and intervention tools (apps, videos), adapted to fit the needs of teens from communities with high health disparities. Grounded in Human-Centered Design Methodologies and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), the design and implementation plan for the TeACH System is done in collaboration with teens and caregivers from the West and South Side Communities of Chicago, IL, and with pediatric primary care clinics situated in the West Side of Chicago.

Results: Teens (M age = 15.9 ± .9) and primary caregivers of teens completed interviews, focus groups, and self-report questionnaires, with their feedback centering on: 1) Awareness of health and wellness; 2) Barriers; 3) Use of Smartphones; 4) Effects of Smartphones; 5) COVID-19; and 6) Opinions/Suggestions for mHealth. Formative data collection for the usability of the TeACH System and its implementation planning are currently underway and will be presented at the time of the conference.

Conclusions: Clear messaging about teen use of recommended DMH (e.g., data privacy, expectations of use) and collaboration have been emphasized to address barriers. In collaboration with a Community Advisory Board, the results of the current research will be followed by a randomized feasibility trial of the TeACH System within pediatric primary care for teens endorsing symptoms of anxiety. Primary engagement outcomes include: 1) understanding of symptoms; 2) confidence to act on symptoms; 3) likelihood of using DMH for symptoms; and 4) actual DMH use.