Mental health outcomes and use of online mental health tools following a public health deployment of the mindfulness meditation app headspace.

Providing community members with access to the mindfulness meditation app Headspace was linked to decreased distress and loneliness over four weeks, regardless of how long or frequently they used the app. People who continued using Headspace showed a larger reduction in mental health stigma resistance than those who stopped. Those who stopped using Headspace were more likely to use other online mental health tools at the follow-up survey. Taking part in a program that offers a mindfulness app may benefit people needing mental health support, and those who moved on from Headspace may have found other digital resources that worked better for them.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs), such as mindfulness-based apps, have become popular mental health resources and can be associated with benefits such as reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. However, there are limited data on the impact of DMHIs on improving mental health outside of controlled research settings, and what factors may facilitate or inhibit such potential impact. This study aimed to understand whether use of Headspace, a mindfulness meditation app, within the context of a large-scale public deployment affected mental health outcomes, mental health stigma, and utilization of other mental health resources. All community members who received Headspace as part of the deployment (N = 97,709) were invited to complete an initial survey (time point 1). A second survey (time point 2) was administrated 4 weeks after. Both surveys were voluntary and uncompensated. Participants (N = 1,229) who had used Headspace and who completed both surveys were included in the analysis. Regression models were used to examine relationships between frequency and continued use of Headspace as well as experiences with Headspace, and changes in mental health problems, mental health stigma, and mental healthcare utilization between time points 1 and 2. There was a significant decrease in distress and loneliness over time, regardless of how long or how frequently the participants used Headspace. Those who continued to use Headspace had a larger decrease in mental health stigma resistance compared to those who stopped using Headspace after time point 1. Additionally, those who stopped using Headspace were more likely to use other online mental health tools at time point 2 compared to those who continued to use Headspace. Taking part in a program that provides access to a mindfulness app like Headspace may be beneficial for those in need of mental health support. Additionally, people who moved on from Headspace may have already had or found other digital mental health resources that worked well or better for them.