Service-user Experiences of Text-based Conversations With a Computer About Their Difficulties

Mental health problems such as anxiety and depression are common. Services are finding it difficult to treat people quickly. This has led to computers being used to treat common problems. Research has shown that around half of people who have mental health problems have more than one difficulty (e.g.low mood and worry). Many of the computer interventions available are not designed to work with more than one problem at a time. This can make them less helpful and can lead to people stopping intervention early. A talking intervention called the Method of Levels is suitable for people with more than one problem. A new computer programme that aims to emulate this type of intervention is called Manage Your Life Online (MYLO). MYLO is accessed online. Users have conversations with MYLO by typing on a computer keyboard. MYLO aims to help people to talk freely and experience feelings related to a problem. In this way, people can find new ways of thinking about their problem. MYLO can be used as often as the person wants. MYLO has been tested twice before with student volunteers. Participants said that it was helpful in solving an everyday problem. The investigators are not aware of any research that has tested a programme like MYLO for people experiencing mental health problems. 24 adult service users will be recruited from Self Help Services, a participating organisation in Manchester contracted to provide primary care mental health provision for NHS patients. Participants will use MYLO for a two week period. The investigators aim to conduct a detailed examination of what questions service users find helpful and unhelpful in intervention with MYLO and whether service user perceptions are related to key mechanisms of psychological change identified in MOL. The information gathered from this study will help to increase understanding of how this type of intervention works and what makes it most helpful to service users. These findings will inform improvements to the MYLO