Investigating the (Cost-)Effectiveness of an Online Social Therapy Platform (ENYOY) for Young People Aged 16-25 on Mental Healthcare Waiting Lists

Summary

This study, run by Amsterdam UMC in the Netherlands, looks at whether an online mental health platform called ENYOY can help improve psychological distress in young people (16-25) who are waiting for mental health care. Young people in the Netherlands aged 16 to 25 can take part if they are experiencing mental health problems, and are currently on a waiting list for mental healthcare. The study lasts 12 months. During this time, participants fill in questionnaires four times (at the start, at 3-months, 6-months, and 12-months). After joining the study, participants are randomly placed into one of two groups:

* Intervention group: receives access to the ENYOY platform plus care-as-usual.
* Control group: receive care-as-usual. Young people in the intervention group can use the platform for the duration of the study period, with three months of guidence by a coach and/or peer with lived experience with mental health complaints. The platform includes activities based on proven psychological methods. These activities help with things like low mood, anxiety, sleep problems, and confidence. They also get support from a coach and/or a peer (someone who has experienced mental health problems themselves), and access to a safe online community where young people can talk, share experiences, and support each other. The community is moderated to keep it safe and supportive. Taking part may help young people feel psychological stress and improve their mental health. There are no known risks from taking part in this study.

Participant recruitment will take place from May 2026 to December 2027. Final follow-up assessments are expected to be completed by December 2028. The study is funded by ZonMw. For questions, you can contact Sascha Struijs ([email protected]), or Fenna Hellegers ([email protected])

Conditions

• Psychological Distress

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

ENYOY

ENYOY is an evidence-based digital mental health platform co-created with young people. It combines four main elements: interactive therapeutic content, guidence by coaches and/or peers with lived experience with mental health complaints, and a moderated online community. The therapeutic content is based on approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy and is tailored into "journeys" that match a young person's needs, such as improving mood, reducing anxiety, or building confidence. Users can explore activities and build a personal toolkit. The online community offers young people a safe social space where young people can connect, share experiences, and support each other. Engagement is encouraged through discussions, prompts, and optional anonymous participation. Safety is closely monitored through both human moderation and automated systems that detect risk.

OTHER

Care As Usual

Young people in the control condition receive Care As Usual.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Levvel

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Psychiatric Clinic of Mondriaan Heerlen-Maastricht

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Academisch Medisch Centrum - Amsterdam UMC Research BV

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

16 Years

Max Age

25 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-05-18

Primary Completion

2028-12-31

Completion

2028-12-31