High school students in China face rising rates of depression and anxiety. Many struggle to find help because school counselors are often overwhelmed. This trial tested a new way to reach students directly through their devices. It combined digital mental health literacy with cognitive-behavioral therapy principles. The program ran for 12 weeks and involved 390 students.
results showed that anxiety scores dropped by 2.54 points on average. Depression scores fell by 1.91 points. Both results were significantly better than the control group. Students felt less anxious and less depressed after the intervention ended.
No serious side effects were reported. Students did not stop the program early due to safety concerns. The study authors note that future research should check if these benefits last longer than 12 weeks. They also want to see if this works in other settings.
Schools can use this approach to prevent mental health issues before they get worse. Digital tools make it easier to reach every student without needing more staff. This method helps fill the gap when professional services are scarce.
