Rethinking Technology’s Role in Students’ Mental Health

Talking Teaching

Guests:

Professor Nikki Rickard is a professor of Wellbeing Science in the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, with a focus on digital mental health and emotional regulation.

Dr David Bakkar is a clinical psychologist, researcher and the Founding Director of MoodMission.

Description:

In this episode, Professor Nikki Rickard and Dr David Backer explore the effects of digital technologies on student mental health. They discuss the risks and benefits of apps, gaming, and social media, emphasising the need for balance. With a focus on digital hygiene education and teacher training, they call for a collaborative approach, including young people, in shaping healthier digital environments for students.

Helpful Links for Teachers and Parents:

• Mood Mission - an evidence-based app designed to empower you to overcome feelings of depression and anxiety by discovering new and better ways of coping
• MoodPrism - a mood tracking app with advanced data collection abilities
• Beacon (created for parents, easy to use, lots of info in a digestible format, recommends safe apps kids and family, developed by Telethon Kids Institute and Dolly’s Dream)
• MIND (M-Health Index and Navigation Database) – searchable data base with practitioner reviews
• Mindtools.io – smaller database, includes ratings and reviews­­
• Reachout/tools-and-apps

Research:

• Bakker, D., Kazantzis, N., Rickwood, D., & Rickard, N. (2018). A randomized controlled trial of three smartphone apps for enhancing public mental health. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 109, 76-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.08.003
• Bakker, D., Kazantzis, N., Rickwood, D., & Rickard, N. (2018). Development and Pilot Evaluation of Smartphone-Delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy Strategies for Mood- and Anxiety-Related Problems: MoodMission. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2018.07.002
• Bakker, D., & Rickard, N. (2017). Engagement in mobile phone app for self-monitoring of emotional wellbeing predicts changes in mental health: MoodPrism. Journal of Affective Disorders.
• Bakker, D., & Rickard, N. (2019). Engagement with a cognitive behavioural therapy mobile phone app predicts changes in mental health and wellbeing: MoodMission. Australian Psychologist, 54, 245-260. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12383