PsyGes - Development and evaluation of an information and counseling app for parents of children with mental health problems

Project duration: January 1st,2025 - June 30st,2027

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of children and adolescents in Austria has become increasingly important. The current HBSC study 2021/22 confirms these negative effects and shows that life satisfaction among schoolchildren decreases with age. The WHO 5 index indicates that 22% of girls and 10% of boys may suffer from depression. Another study (MHAT) shows that 20% of 10- to 18-year-olds meet the diagnostic criteria for at least one mental illness.

For parents in particular, recognizing and dealing with mental stress in their own child is a hurdle. Low-threshold, digital access via a mental health app should help to overcome this hurdle.  

The PsyGes project is developing and evaluating an information and counseling app for parents on the mental health of children and adolescents in order to improve parents' mental health literacy and self-efficacy in the event that their child exhibits alarming behavior. 

The project follows the user-centered design process. The target group is involved in the individual project phases in a participatory manner. For example, a needs assessment is carried out using focus groups and interviews with parents and caregivers from various life contexts and experts from the psychosocial field. Based on this, the technical development of the app prototype and the development and entry of evidence-based content will take place. During the development phase, videos with German subtitles will also be made for the app based on the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary content. In the final phase of the project, the app will be evaluated in terms of its benefits, usability and acceptance.

Research Goals

  • Development of an information and counseling app for parents on the mental health of children and adolescents 
  • Evaluation of the usability and acceptance of the app as well as the evaluation of the benefits of the app for the target group in terms of improving mental health literacy and individually perceived self-efficacy

Funding bodies

Fachhochschul-Förderrichtlinie 2020, 38. Ausschreibung, “Digitalisierung aus inter- und transdisziplinärer Sicht“

Cooperation partners


UN Sustainable Development Goals



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