Speaker
Description
Authors: Lorraine Cousin Cabrolier (AP-HP. Nord-Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Universitaire Robert Debré, Unité d'épidémiologie Clinique, Inserm, CIC-1426, Paris, France.), Philippe Martin (AP-HP. Nord-Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Universitaire Robert Debré, Unité d'épidémiologie Clinique, Inserm, CIC-1426, Paris, France.), Thibault Contant (Morning Company, Marclopt, France), Claire Collin (Université Paris Cité, ECEVE UMR 1123, Inserm, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France.), Clara Eyraud (Université Paris Cité, ECEVE UMR 1123, Inserm, Faculté de Médecine, Paris, France.), Bruno Berthier (Private practice, Villejust, France), Enora Le Roux (AP-HP. Nord-Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Universitaire Robert Debré, Unité d'épidémiologie Clinique, Inserm, CIC-1426, Paris, France.)
Background: Since 2020, a number of research and international organisations have been warning of an increase deterioration in mental well-being among adolescents and young adults. Mental health literacy is a crucial component across the prevention continuum, from primary prevention and health promotion to tertiary prevention. Gaming platforms, integral to youth culture, offer innovative avenues for interventions that can span multiple points along this continuum.
Objective: To co-design, implement, and evaluate a Minecraft-based intervention broadcasted on Twitch enhancing mental health literacy among 15-25 year-olds, demonstrating how digital platforms can effectively deliver both primary prevention and early intervention approaches.
Methods: We employed transdisciplinary co-design with Twitch streamers and a clinical psychologist to develop "#walkyourtherapist"—exemplifying the intersection between social media practice, psychology, and public health. The evaluation used a quasi-experimental design with MHLq questionnaire, observations, chat analysis, and interviews.
Results: Three sessions reached 600+ viewers. The community showed significant improvement in mental health literacy scores (94 to 104, p<0.01), particularly in knowledge of mental health problems, first aid skills, and self-help strategies. This demonstrates how digital interventions can simultaneously serve health promotion and early intervention functions within the prevention continuum.
Conclusion: This approach shows how gaming platforms can implement interventions spanning the prevention continuum, from primary prevention to more targeted approaches. This work contributes to interdisciplinary prevention science by leveraging digital cultural practices within transdisciplinary frameworks, highlighting the effectiveness of meeting youth in their preferred environments to enhance engagement in mental health promotion activities.
| Conflict of interest | No authors have conflict of interest to declare |
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