File(s) stored somewhere else
Please note: Linked content is NOT stored on Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington and we can't guarantee its availability, quality, security or accept any liability.
Enhancing an online cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for depression: Harnessing the feedback of sexual and gender minority youth to help improve SPARX
journal contribution
posted on 2023-01-23, 21:09 authored by Mathijs FG Lucassen, Karolina Stasiak, Theresa FlemingTheresa Fleming, Matthew Shepherd, Sally N MerryObjective SPARX is an online cognitive behavioural therapy self-help intervention for adolescent depression provided in serious game format. Since 2014, it has been freely available in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) due to funding from the NZ government. In 2020/21, feedback from sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) was used to refine and update SPARX. Method Three online focus groups and follow-up email consultations involved 12 SGMY (16 to 25 years old) in NZ. A general inductive approach was used to analyse data. Results SGMY had specific needs as well as preferences and four themes were identified: attend to our contextual realities; portrayals of sexual and gender minority people in games; envisaged ideals for serious gaming and appraisals of SPARX. SGMY feedback was used to improve SPARX for this unique population, with the updates launched in October 2021. Conclusions SGMY are underserved in terms of their mental health needs. Refining or tailoring existing interventions proffers a potential way forward in terms of addressing these needs.