Improving Mental Health Literacy Through the Zoala App: Insights from Our Pilot Study
At Zoala, we are committed to advancing mental health support through technology, and one of our key goals is to improve mental health literacy. In a recent pilot study, we focused on how the Zoala app impacts mental health literacy, particularly among medical students. This study forms part of our broader commitment to scientifically validating the effectiveness of our AI-powered platform, ensuring it not only supports mental well-being but also equips users with the knowledge needed to manage their mental health.
Mental health Literacy: A Key Focus
Mental health literacy refers to the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders that aid in their recognition, management, and prevention. In our pilot study, we evaluated this across several domains using the Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS)1, which measures areas such as the recognition of mental health disorders, self-treatment knowledge, and understanding how to seek professional help.
The Study: How Zoala Makes a Difference
We conducted a month-long study with medical undergraduate students of Universiti Putra Malaysia to assess the Zoala app’s impact. The students used the app regularly for one month, and were assessed before and after the pilot study. The study focused on four key areas: depression, anxiety, well-being, and mental health literacy.
The study found that there were statistically significant positive changes in mental health literacy of the students, especially in two mental health literacy areas:
Recognition of Disorders:
After using the Zoala app, students demonstrated a significant increase in their ability to recognize various mental health conditions. This is crucial because early recognition of disorders can lead to faster, more effective treatment.
Knowledge of How to Seek Mental Health Information:
Students also showed a significant improvement in understanding how and where to find reliable information about mental health issues. This is particularly important for self-advocacy and informed decision-making in managing mental health.
Why This Matters
The improvement in these two areas highlights Zoala’s potential in empowering users to take control of their mental health journey. By enhancing their ability to recognize disorders and seek appropriate help, Zoala helps bridge the gap between awareness and action, enabling more effective self-management and earlier intervention.
What's Next for Zoala
The findings of our pilot study emphasise the importance of improving mental health literacy, and we are excited to continue refining our app to further this mission. Moving forward, we are implementing changes based on user feedback and results from the pilot study to make the Zoala app even more user-friendly and engaging.
We will also continue to conduct full randomised controlled studies to expand our understanding of how Zoala can improve other aspects of mental health, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and overall well-being. Our goal is to ensure that Zoala remains a cutting-edge tool for mental health support, backed by rigorous evidence.
Conclusion
At Zoala, we believe that knowledge is power when it comes to mental health. Our pilot study demonstrated that the Zoala app showed significant changes in two key aspects of mental health literacy, equipping users with the tools they need to navigate their mental health journeys more confidently. We remain committed to enhancing the app’s capabilities and conducting further studies to showcase its effectiveness in supporting mental well-being.
By participating in clinical studies and continuously improving our platform, we aim to make a lasting impact on mental health literacy and well-being for all Zoala users.
Who Are We
Dr Ruziana Masiran is a senior medical lecturer and a consultant psychiatrist in the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia. She is practising in Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah. Ruziana’s recent research interests span diverse areas within psychiatry, including autism spectrum disorder, emotional and behavioral problems in children, suicide and parenting.
Dr Kit-Aun Tan is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Tan’s recent research interests include examining the efficacy and effectiveness of online psychoeducational programs in improving the emotional and behavioural functioning of psychiatric patients and their caregivers in local healthcare settings.
Dr Sharmili Roy is a co-founder and CTO at Zoala. She has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Sharmili leads development of AI-based technology empowering the well-being features available in Zoala applications. Zoala is a mental health company focused on AI-powered mental wellness that builds adolescent resilience by delivering evidence-based interventions to improve mental wellbeing.
References
O’Connor, M., & Casey, L. (2015). The Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS): A new scale-based measure of mental health literacy. Psychiatry Research, 229(1-2), 511-516. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.064
Dr. Sharmili Roy
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Zoala
About the author:
Dr.Sharmili Roy is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Zoala. She has a PhD in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Sharmili leads the development of AI-based technology empowering the wellbeing features available in Zoala applications. Zoala is a mental health company focused on AI-powered mental wellness that builds adolescents resilience by delivering evidence-based interventions to improve mental wellbeing.
