Mental Health App Reduced Anxiety, Depression, and Cannabis Use in University Students

The Minder app produced significant reductions in anxiety (GAD-7: d=-0.17, p<0.001) and depression (PHQ-9: d=-0.11, p=0.007). Statistically significant reductions were also found for cannabis use frequency and typical alcohol consumption. 77.1% of intervention participants accessed at least one app component. Retention was high: 79% intervention and 83% control completed follow-up.

Two-arm parallel-assignment single-blinded 30-day RCT. 1,489 university students randomized to Minder app (n=743) or waitlist control (n=746). App delivered evidence-based content via chatbot, connected users with services, and provided peer coaching. ITT analysis with generalized linear mixed-effects models.

University students face high rates of mental health and substance use challenges but rarely seek formal treatment. A scalable digital intervention that addresses both simultaneously could be integrated into existing university systems to reach students who would not otherwise get help.

Digital mental health interventions are particularly well-suited to university populations who are already digitally native. The finding that a single app can address both mental health symptoms and substance use simultaneously is more efficient than separate interventions.

Small effect sizes (d=-0.11 to -0.17). Waitlist control does not control for attention/expectation effects. 30-day follow-up is short. Cannabis and alcohol use were secondary outcomes. Self-reported outcomes.