Digital Interventions: A Tool to Overcome Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Services for Adolescents with Symptoms of Anxiety and/or Depression- A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is a complex developmental stage of transition during which onsets of anxiety and depression symptoms are most reported. Due to long waiting lists and overburdened mental health services, adolescents have to wait a long time before they can receive treatment and often this can hinder therapeutic interventions and outcomes. Digital interventions may be an efficacious tool to bridge the gap between the increasingly high number of adolescents in need of treatment and the difficulties in accessing mental health services. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this systematic review is to provide a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of digital interventions for adolescents, designed to prevent and/or treat symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improve levels of emotional regulation and well-being. METHODS: Three electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed and Web of Science) were systematically searched to identify studies, which have evaluated the efficacy or effectiveness of digital interventions targeting symptoms of anxiety and/or depression in adolescents. A total of N = 19 studies were included and analysed. RESULTS: N = 12 studies found a significant effect of the digital interventions on the symptoms, while N = 6 found general improvements but non-significant differences between conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Digital interventions can be a supportive tool for adolescents with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety who would have to wait a long time to receive treatment, due the barriers encountered in the help-seeking process.