Co-Designed Mental Health Screening App (Here for You) for University Students: Pilot Feasibility Mixed Methods Study

This pilot study provides preliminary evidence for the feasibility and user acceptability of the Here for You app, co-designed using a participatory approach with Indian university students. Strong correlations between app-based screening and clinical assessments (r=0.819, r=0.887, and r=0.972) suggest promising concurrent validity. These findings from a single-site pilot study require validation through multisite studies across diverse educational and cultural contexts before broader implementation recommendations. By integrating user experience, clinical rigor, and ethical safeguards, such as adherence to digital personal data protection guidelines, the app offers a culturally resonant and scalable model for digital mental health screening in low-resource settings. This approach underscores the value of the "nothing about us without us" principle in developing effective mHealth interventions.