Test of a mobile app to aid mindfulness and improve wellbeing in young people

INTERVENTION: This trial uses an existing mindfulness app (Smiling Mind) which was identified as a high‐quality app in a recent review*. The app is available for free on both Android and iOS platforms. *Mani, M., Kavanagh, D. J., Hides, L., & Stoyanov, S. R. (2015). Review and evaluation of mindfulness‐based iPhone apps. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 3(3), e82. The Smiling Mind app has a 10‐week mindfulness program comprising 5‐10 mins of voice‐guided meditation for each week. The app recommends daily mindfulness practice for 2‐7 days after each weekly session before proceeding with the next session. Eligible participants are randomly allocated to Immediate access, Immediate access with Reminders or 6‐week Delayed access to the Smiling Mind app. The immediate access groups will use the app upon completing the baseline survey while the wait‐list controls will get the link to the app after 6‐weeks. Participants will use the app for a period of 6 weeks. They won't be advised of frequency or duration of usage of the app. The Reminders group will receive weekly phone calls (lasting around 5 minutes) by the primary researcher to share their experience with the app and will be reminded about the importance of regular mindfulness practice. Mental wellbeing, distress, mindfulness and happiness will be measured at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 weeks. App usage frequency will be collected by self‐reports. CONDITION: Distress Mindfulness Wellbeing PRIMARY OUTCOME: Mental wellbeing (Mental Health Continuum ‐ Short Form; MHC‐SF) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Distress (Kessler 10; K10) Happiness (Oxford Happiness Questionnaire; OHQ) Mindfulness (Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness scale ‐ Revised; CAMS‐R) INCLUSION CRITERIA: Have access to iPhone or Android phone At least mild level of distress (a score of at least 17 in Kessler‐10 psychological distress scale)