A meta-analysis examined 29 studies involving children and adolescents aged 19 or younger from the general population. These studies looked at universal digital mental health interventions designed to support mental health without targeting specific individuals. The research covered a range of outcomes including anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and social-emotional skills.
The analysis found significant overall effects across all measured areas. Improvements were seen in anxiety, depression, psychological distress, externalizing problems, psychological well-being, interpersonal functioning, and social-emotional skills. These positive effects were observed at the end of the interventions and continued to be significant at a follow-up of six months or longer.
Safety data were not reported in the included studies, so no specific adverse events were identified. The scarcity of meta-analyses examining these effects in young people is a noted limitation. Providing these digital tools with longer durations may be critical for improving mental health outcomes in this age group.