Whitu

In early 2020, it became apparent that New Zealand young people would need additional support to maintain their well-being, improve their mental health and to build resilience during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.  This project, initially funded by the Starship Foundation and then by the Auckland Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) was conceptualised to co-design and evaluate an evidence-based well-being app called ‘Whitu: Seven ways in seven days’.

A pilot trial and qualitative study of the initial prototype app in July 2020 demonstrated statistically significant improvements in wellbeing, depression, anxiety and stress from baseline to 6-weeks; feasibility of running a larger trial; and some concerns regarding navigation, design and cultural acceptability.   Following refinement of the app to address these issues, a randomised controlled trial of the second prototype was undertaken between January and April 2021.  Results of this trial are currently awaited.

Principal investigators: Anna Serlachius and Hiran Thabrew

Co-investigators: Jennifer Brenton-Peters, Anna Boggiss, Elise Buttenshaw, Nic Cao, Alana Cavadino, Stephanie Chadd, David Lim, Eva Morunga, Kiralee Schache and Kate Wallace-Boyd

The project commenced in March 2020 and is expected to be completed by December 2021.

We hope that Whitu proves to be a culturally appropriate, scalable mental health intervention to support New Zealand young people, and possibly others overseas, maintain their well-being, improve their mental health and build resilience during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.