Digital And Social Media Interventions for Depression And Suicidal Behaviour Among Adolescents And Young Adults In Low And Middle-Income Countries (LMICS): A Scoping Review
1
Public Health, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
2
Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (SRES), University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2545
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Depression and suicidal behaviour are critical drivers of morbidity and mortality among young people, including low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where mental health interventions are often scarce. While increasing smartphone usage offers a gateway for scalable digital and social media interventions, evidence within LMIC contexts remains limited. This review maps the landscape of digital interventions to identify opportunities for expanding mental health equity.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. Multiple databases and grey literature were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2025 on digital interventions for depression or suicidal behaviour among young people (10–24 years) in LMICs. Data extraction was performed with a standardized charting form, allowing multi-reviewer verification to ensure accuracy. Rayyan.ai was employed for a descriptive and thematic synthesis for mapping intervention types, outcomes, and contextual factors.
RESULTS:
Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, comprising China, Hong Kong, Macau, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Interventions included chatbot-based cognitive behavioural therapy, gamified mobile applications, SMS psychoeducation, and multicomponent online programmes. Most demonstrated short-term reductions in depressive symptoms, with moderate-to-large effect sizes for chatbot and app-based approaches. Evidence on suicidal behaviour was scanty, due to exclusion of high-risk participants. Secondary benefits included reductions in anxiety and stress, alongside improved help-seeking. Acceptability was high, with participants appreciating anonymity and flexibility, though notable attrition levels were observed due to weak connectivity, power outages, as well as digital illiteracy.
CONCLUSIONS:
The interventions are potential, youth-friendly tools that can bypass traditional barriers to care in resource-constrained settings. However, future research must move beyond low-risk populations to include high-risk groups and prioritize culturally adaptable, longer-term designs. Strengthening this evidence base is essential for informing scalable, sustainable public health policies that leverage existing digital lifestyles to bridge the mental health gap for vulnerable youth.
Depression and suicidal behaviour are critical drivers of morbidity and mortality among young people, including low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where mental health interventions are often scarce. While increasing smartphone usage offers a gateway for scalable digital and social media interventions, evidence within LMIC contexts remains limited. This review maps the landscape of digital interventions to identify opportunities for expanding mental health equity.
METHODS:
A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and Joanna Briggs Institute guidance. Multiple databases and grey literature were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2025 on digital interventions for depression or suicidal behaviour among young people (10–24 years) in LMICs. Data extraction was performed with a standardized charting form, allowing multi-reviewer verification to ensure accuracy. Rayyan.ai was employed for a descriptive and thematic synthesis for mapping intervention types, outcomes, and contextual factors.
RESULTS:
Eleven studies met inclusion criteria, comprising China, Hong Kong, Macau, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Interventions included chatbot-based cognitive behavioural therapy, gamified mobile applications, SMS psychoeducation, and multicomponent online programmes. Most demonstrated short-term reductions in depressive symptoms, with moderate-to-large effect sizes for chatbot and app-based approaches. Evidence on suicidal behaviour was scanty, due to exclusion of high-risk participants. Secondary benefits included reductions in anxiety and stress, alongside improved help-seeking. Acceptability was high, with participants appreciating anonymity and flexibility, though notable attrition levels were observed due to weak connectivity, power outages, as well as digital illiteracy.
CONCLUSIONS:
The interventions are potential, youth-friendly tools that can bypass traditional barriers to care in resource-constrained settings. However, future research must move beyond low-risk populations to include high-risk groups and prioritize culturally adaptable, longer-term designs. Strengthening this evidence base is essential for informing scalable, sustainable public health policies that leverage existing digital lifestyles to bridge the mental health gap for vulnerable youth.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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