Adding JoyPop: Evaluating the JoyPopTM App as an Add-On to Treatment for Youth at Children’s Centre Thunder Bay - Angela Ashley (2025)

This research evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating the JoyPop™ resilience-building mobile application as an adjunct to traditional clinical treatment for youth accessing services at the Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. By investigating how digital mental health tools can complement face-to-face therapy, the study aimed to determine if the app's features—such as mood tracking and self-regulation exercises—improved therapeutic engagement and emotional outcomes for youth in a real-world clinical setting. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected to assess the app's usability among this specific demographic and to identify whether the "add-on" approach provided additional support during the intervals between formal counseling sessions. The findings offer significant implications for community mental health organizations looking to enhance their service delivery through mHealth technology, particularly for supporting youth resilience and coping skills within the Northwestern Ontario context.