The Move Mood app by stem4 provides ways for young people to manage the behaviours associated with low mood or depression. Developed by Dr Nihara Krause, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, together with ideas and input from young people, the Move Mood app uses a Behavioural Activation Framework (references below) to help increase motivation to change.

It is not a substitute for the assessment and individualised treatment of a health/mental health professional.

*References

• Types of talking therapies
• Simpler, cheaper therapy (behavioural activation) can be as good as CBT for treating depression
• Depression in children and young people: identification and management
• Individual research recommendation details

The Move Mood app has been developed for young people aged 13 and over and is suitable for mild/moderate depression. Young people under 13 may use the Move Mood app but should ask a trusted adult to help them. For young people who are severely depressed, the Move Mood app should only be used alongside treatment.

“Low mood and depression weigh you down. Instead, engage, initiate and activate. Build your power to lift this weight”.

The Move Mood app aims to help young people manage the behaviours associated with low mood or depression. It follows a type of treatment called Behavioural Activation Therapy (BAT) which encourages people with depression to approach activities they may be avoiding. This is done by defining goals and setting activity schedules since when a person is depressed they tend to avoid particular situations or activities. Unfortunately, avoidance leads to more depression trapping people in further depression. The app encourages the user, with the help of a ‘companion’ to carry out tasks they make a commitment to complete and to work towards ‘awards’ for completing them.

There is opportunity for monitoring progress and a section for resources.

For those individuals with severe symptoms of depression, the Move Mood app needs to be used together with individual support from a mental health professional.

The Move Mood app is password-protected and confidential.

Mood disorders have been impacted significantly as a result of the pandemic. This is partly because of the stressful nature of the pandemic itself and limited access to treatments and also because mood enhancement strategies such as exercise and meeting friends are restricted. In order to support children and young people affected, stem4 has created an animated video and user booklet on how to use the Move Mood app over this time. This includes specific mood issues that may have increased during the pandemic, also outlining pandemic safe tasks which abide by safety guidelines such as social distancing.

Downloads of the stem4 digital portfolio of apps has increased by 40% subsequent to the pandemic and we will endeavour to use the feedback we receive from our users and our focus groups to update the Move Mood app. Given the disruption to goals and daily structure, stem4 believes the Move Mood app has an important place in helping build resilience in recovery.

– To develop an evidence-based, widely accessible digital tool to help young people (age 13-25) manage the behaviours associated with low mood or depression symptoms.

– To devise an anonymised analytical model to evidence effectiveness and inform future development.

– To comply with NHS digital technology standards.

– To raise the profile of stem4 and its work to support teenage mental health.

Pilot study:

A small pilot study is currently underway but interim measures are as follows. Six young people and two parents all experiencing low mood/depression, seeing a psychologist were given the Move Mood app to use alongside Cognitive Treatment for depression.

All participants were assessed at baseline using the Moods and Feelings Questionnaire Angold and Costello, 1987. This measure has been noted to be a reliable measure of depression in children and young people in both clinical and non-clinical samples (Burleson et al, 2006).

The child report version was given to the six young people (aged 14-17) and the adult version to the two parents. Due to the pandemic, all consultations, including questionnaire feedback was carried out remotely with the participant feeding back verbally. None of the young people had self-harm behaviours or reported high risk.

The app was used to reinforce homework assignments of behavioural goals. In addition, there was an attitude to the app questionnaire. The app was used alongside treatment for four weeks and will continue for a further four weeks.

At mid-point in treatment, the following are noted. Acceptability (wanting to use the app) is 98% (one adult slightly unsure of their technology skills in setting up). Reported engagement with reminders of the app 95%. Number completing their targets 90%. Weekly measures on the Moods and Feelings Questionnaire show reduction in symptoms although the sample size is too small for statistical analysis. Reminders were 100% appreciated, engagement with companions 80%. Liked categories were ‘view my tracker’ (77%) and ‘view my awards’ (75%).

stem4 will be seeking funding to carry out a large scale, quantitative and qualitative study on the Move Mood app effectiveness later this year.

Analytics data:

Latest Move Mood app analytics data (up until the end of June 2023) tells us:

There have been over 135,000 downloads of the Move Mood app to date.

77% of the individuals who used the Move Mood app reported that an activity helped to lift their mood.

Feedback comments include:

“This has helped me a lot. It’s just nice being organized about tasks and then getting an award, I really like it.”

The Move Mood app was developed co-collaboratively with young people. Co-collaborative workshops with young people explored desired outputs, user journeys, visual concepts, security/privacy, user experience, and tone of voice.

Clinical and professional groups provided input on safety, user characteristics, strengths, potential barriers, referrer experience and tone of voice.

stem4 consistently monitors user feedback via emails, social media and reviews on the App Store/Google Play. In addition, we will use annual, small user groups to feedback to update the Move Mood app.

Over the pandemic, an animated video and booklet were created providing Move Mood app users with guidance on how to use the app safely. The content for this was created by a Clinical Psychologist together with feedback from a small group of users.

We aim for all our user groups to be diverse and inclusive and represent a cross-section of our youth user community.

Clinical Input and Safety

The clinical content of the Move Mood app was created by a Clinical Psychologist and the app underwent a clinical safety assessment with a range of clinicians including a GP, Adolescent Psychiatrist, family therapist and Clinical Psychologists.

Our clinical evaluation groups also include a diverse range of different professionals.

We welcome user feedback which can be emailed to movemood@stem4.org.uk.

A number of standards were used. These included:

NHS Digital DCB0129 standards. Developed by the NHS, this standard is designed to help manufacturers of health IT software evidence the clinical safety of their products.

User Needs design based on workshop feedback with young people.

Design with data using existing app data.

Iteration – New updates depending on things that have (or haven’t) worked or new functionality.

Accessibility

stem4 strives to be as broadly accessible as possible through the use of industry best practices. For example, contrast colours for those with sight issues, using a font that’s clear to read etc.

stem4 has put a number of measures in place to ensure that the Move Mood app is clinically safe to use.

The Move Mood app has been developed by a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and validated by the group it is for. The Move Mood app complies with the clinical safety standard DCB0129. Developed by the NHS, this standard is designed to help manufacturers of health IT software evidence the clinical safety of their products.

stem4 has a Clinical Risk Management Plan. A Clinical Safety Review with clinical professionals was undertaken for the Move Mood app and a Clinical Safety Case Report and Hazard Log created. The clinical risk is monitored and laid out in the Hazard Log. A flow chart of hazard mitigation and response is available which outlines how issues will be addressed together with target response times. 

The target response time for urgent issues is 24 hours, for high priority issues 72 hours, medium priority 7 working days and low priority 14 working days.

The Clinical Safety Officer (CSO) is Dr Nihara Krause.

stem4 consistently monitors user feedback via emails, social media and reviews on the App Store/Google Play.

The Move Mood app is reviewed on a quarterly basis during which app efficacy, including the efficacy of the activities, is reviewed, and the app updated as necessary to ensure it is clinically valid.

The Move Mood app is reviewed every three months and updated as required.

We do not collect any personal information, that is any information that could allow you to be identified as an individual. We do collect some anonymous or non-personally identifiable information (non-PII) – this is data that cannot be used on its own to track, or identify a person. The non-PII data that we can collect, if you agree to share this with us, is year of birth, county (if in the UK), gender, ethnicity, and whether you are receiving treatment or advice for depression from a health professional. This information is used to help us develop our Apps and understand basic information on who is using the app.

It is important to know that you do not have to share any information about yourself, apart from letting us know which country you are in at the beginning of your use, and you can still use the whole app without telling us anything that you don’t want to share.

You can read our full Privacy Policy here.

The Move Mood app does not create user accounts. This was based on user research, with young people telling us they valued privacy. This means that if the Move Mood app is deleted or the device is changed, any app data is lost. stem4 therefore recommends that screenshots of any data that is to be saved are taken.

To report an issue with the Move Mood app please email movemood@stem4.org.uk providing as many details about the issue as you can. The developers of the Move Mood app, stem4, endeavour to respond within target response times. The target response time for urgent issues is 24 hours, for high priority issues 72 hours, medium priority 7 working days and low priority 14 working days.

stem4 assesses and records any clinical risk. The Move Mood app is reviewed quarterly and updates made where necessary.

stem4 will resolve major bugs that prevent the intended Move Mood app functionality from working for devices and operating systems supported.

The Move Mood app uses an evidence-based approach but it does not substitute for the assessment and treatment of a suitably qualified mental health professional. Please contact your GP or physician before use or if you are uncertain of whether the Move Mood app is for you. As the saying goes ‘no one size fits all’ and digital approaches help some and not others.

If your mood remains low after each use of the Move Mood app, please try another approach or use the Move Mood app alongside another approach.

If you are under the age of 13, please use it with a responsible adult.

stem4 does not offer a counselling service. For any concerns please contact a GP and also the signposts in the Move Mood app. In an emergency please contact 111 or 999.

“Move Mood offers a fantastic evidence-based approach to supporting young people create and work towards motivational goals. The app is smart, user friendly and engaging. Move Mood is a useful tool that is helpful for pre clinical groups as well as being something that would work well alongside additional therapeutic input. I would thoroughly recommend it.”

Joe Stone, Family and Systemic Psychotherapist