Mental health concerns among children and youth are on the rise, while traditional systems continue to struggle to meet demand. Digital tools are often viewed as scalable solutions, but how well do they work, and who is actually being reached? Despite growing investment in digital mental health tools, there remains no clear, consolidated understanding of what works, what doesn't, and where the evidence is lacking. Without this knowledge, we risk scaling solutions that fail to deliver equitable, lasting impact, especially for populations too often left out of the conversation.

We conducted the first meta-analysis on universal (Tier 1) digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) for children and youth. This project emerged from a national partnership between DIVERT Mental Health and Strong Minds Strong Kids - Psychology Canada. Together, we bring academic research and community expertise into conversation to reimagine the future of inclusive, accessible digital mental health care.
 
In this session, we will share findings on:
 
•    Which formats (fully virtual or hybrid) are most effective 
•    The psychological outcomes most impacted (emotional, behavioural, social, cognitive)
•    Whether benefits are sustained over time
•    Key gaps in the evidence, including the underrepresentation of equity-seeking populations
 
Join us as we reflect on what the research tells us, where the field needs to go next, and how we can work together to implement digital mental health tools that meet the diverse needs of all children and youth on the planet.