| Summary: | Background: Depression is common in adolescence, and leads to distress and impairment for individuals and families. Adolescent depression is difficult to recognise and treat. Treatment and prevention guidelines stress the need for good information and evidence-based psychosocial interventions for individuals/families. There has been growing interest in psychoeducation, which is broadly about delivering accurate information about health issues and self- management. However, there is a lack of engaging online psychoeducation for adolescents with, or at high risk of, depression. Aims: To design, develop and undertake an early evaluation of a user-friendly online psychoeducation multimedia package for young people with (or at high risk of) depression and their families/carers, friends and professionals. Methods: The initial prototype of the package was informed by: i) a systematic review of family/group, individual, school-based and online psychoeducation programmes, ii) findings from semi-structured interviews and focus groups with adolescents (with depressive symptoms or at high-risk), parents/carers and professionals, iii) workshops/discussions with a multimedia company and experts. For the evaluation phase, adolescents and parents/carers completed pre/post questionnaires and were interviewed, online usage was monitored, and there was a focus group for professionals. Results: The systematic review showed that existing psychoeducation studies were limited in number and heterogeneous. Key themes in the interviews/groups were: aims of the package, design and content issues and integration/context. The prototype was designed to be multi-platform, person-centred, engaging and interactive. Mood-monitoring and goal-setting components, and an 'app', were recommended by user groups. The results of the evaluation showed that the package was acceptable, feasible, clear and easy to use, and informed its further development. Conclusions: The online package was developed with user-input and rigorous methods. Further development and a feasibility trial are needed prior to its implementation in health, education, youth and social services and charities, to help young people, families/carers, friends and professionals.
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