Working and discussion papersOctober 2020Lucia Rost with Fiona Samuels, Carmen Leon-Himmelstine and Rachel MarcusStudents use computers at a school in Tanzania. Photo: IICDYoung people are more engaged with digital technologies than ever before. and health interventions increasingly build on these new technological opportunities. This literature review investigates digital approaches to addressing adolescent mental health and psychosocial-related challenges with a focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly Tanzania and Viet Nam. The review is part of a two-and-a-half-year project to address the mental health needs of adolescents in schools, the community and at institutional level in Tanzania and Viet Nam through the co-creation and application of digital and non-digital technologies, funded by Fondation Botnar.Key messages An increasing number of studies show that digital approaches have the potential to address the mental health and wellbeing difficulties of young people – for example, reducing depression and anxiety or helping to detect emerging mental disorders among adolescents.However, most studies on digital approaches and mental health centre on the Global North, and there are gaps in knowledge about how technology can be used to support adolescents in LMICs. It is important that a range of actors are included when designing, implementing and evaluating digital approaches to young people’s mental health, and that inequalities of access (mediated by factors such as gender, age, socioeconomic background and location) are addressed.Read the research Digital approaches to adolescent mental health: a review of the literatureDocumentpdfRelated Covid-19 and health: five expert views Covering analysis on universal health coverage, mental health, and equitable access to water, sanitation and hygiene, plus lessons from other epidemics.Articles and blogs1 June 2020Addressing the mental health needs of adolescents in Tanzania and Viet Nam through the co-creation of digital and non-digital solutions A 2.5-year project to address the mental health needs of adolescents in Tanzania and Viet Nam through digital technology.Projects1 May 2020 Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children and young people in Viet NamExploring the mental health of children and young people in Viet Nam and the policies and provisions currently in place.Research reports and studies26 April 2018See more:mental healthtechnologychildhood and youthhealthTanzaniaViet Nam