In a randomized control trial, 103 youths aged 13–18 in Kenya participated in either the Shamiri-Digital intervention or a control condition focusing on study skills. Both interventions were delivered electronically within school settings.
Our team at Shamiri Health is dedicated to addressing the mental health challenges faced by adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, a region where treatment options are limited and stigma often hinders help-seeking behaviors. To confront these challenges, we developed "Shamiri-Digital," a brief, computerized single-session intervention (SSI) designed to reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents.
The prevalence of adolescent depression and anxiety symptoms in sub-Saharan African countries is alarmingly high. In response, Shamiri-Digital was created as a digital SSI that combines elements of growth mindset, gratitude, and value affirmation, presented through interactive reading and writing activities.
In a randomized control trial, 103 high school students aged 13–18 in Kenya participated in either the Shamiri-Digital intervention or a control condition focusing on study skills. Both interventions were delivered electronically within school settings.
The results of the study were significant and promising:
This study is pivotal as it demonstrates that a brief, computerized SSI like Shamiri-Digital can effectively reduce depressive symptoms among adolescents in a region facing a dearth of mental health professionals and high stigma around mental health issues.
The public health significance of this research is profound. It provides evidence that a single-session, positive-psychology-based digital intervention can be a viable solution to reduce depressive symptoms among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. This finding opens up new avenues for mental health interventions in regions with limited access to professional mental health care.
The success of Shamiri-Digital lays the groundwork for further research. Future studies, including replication trials with extended follow-ups, are necessary to fully understand the long-term efficacy and scope of this intervention.
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