Griffith University Launches Online Platform to Foster Happy, Calm Kids

Access to mental healthcare for children and young people has just become easier with the launch of new digital mental health platform ‘Momentum’.

Momentum is a free, easy to use, self-help program which aims to build mental health resilience and alleviate issues such as anxiety and depression by providing access to evidence-based treatment and resources.

Momentum Digital Health Platform was created by experts from the University of Southern Queensland, Griffith University, the Australian National University, Federation University, The University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology.

The new platform provides age-appropriate assessment, feedback and interventions with two versions of the program available for children aged seven to 12 years and for young people aged 13 to 17 years.

Second Chief Investigator, Griffith University School of Applied Psychology Professor Caroline Donovan said the innovative platform will help to fill a gap in mental healthcare access for young people.

“There are a range of challenges which prevent access to mental health care for young people such as stigma, cost, wait-lists and knowing where to find the right help,” Professor Donovan said.

“If mental health issues such as anxiety aren’t addressed, they can get worse over time and grow into bigger problems.

“The program is designed to help young people understand their mental health problems and learn new ways to cope with them.

The evidenced-based interactive modules build upon the original online Brave Programs which have helped children and adolescents deal with anxiety for the past 25 years.

Co-creator at Griffith School of Applied Psychology Dr Laura Uhlmann said users can start the free program by doing a simple registration.

“After registering, users will be guided to do the Mental Health Check-up which includes an assessment, the of which are provided to users as feedback,” Dr Uhlmann said.

“The program will provide a treatment program tailored to the problems identified in the assessment.

“The program is easy to follow, and allows children and adolescents to receive rewards as they work through the resources and mark milestones in their progress.

“You don’t need assistance from a therapist, and children can do the program with or without help from their caregivers.”