Depressive symptoms of Primary Health Care workers screened by APP Mental app

• Grant number: 22/09708-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2022
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Larissa Campagna Martini Barbosa
• Grantee: Gabriel Henrique da Silva Santana
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The attempt to control the pandemic caused a chronic stress that affected the global population, especially health professionals. These workers were the front line during a period of social isolation and fear of the risk of infection, making them a risk group for mental illness, especially depression. Thus, the creation of mental health prevention and promotion measures have proven necessary to ensure that the workers remain active and healthy. Thanks to the advances in digital technologies, an alternative form of care has emerged through "Health Apps", especially the application developed by this team, APP Mental. Objective: To evaluate the viability of APP Mental for the prevention and screening of depressive symptoms among health professionals over a three-month period of interaction. Methodology: This is a concurrent quantitative study and longitudinal follow-up. The PHQ 9 scale will be used for screening depressive symptoms through interaction with APP Mental.