Peer Tree: a digital intervention targeting loneliness in young people

Participants will be assessed to determine their eligibility in the study, part of this assessment period is to confirm that participants do not meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis (e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder). All participants enrolled in the trial will undergo three assessment sessions: baseline (before Peer Tree), post-intervention (immediately after the 6 week intervention), and three months post-intervention. After the baseline assessment, participants will be randomised to one of the following two arms: Peer Tree Smartphone Application or Treatment as Usual. Peer Tree Smartphone Application Participants will use the Peer Tree smartphone application individually for approximately 5-10 minutes per day for 6 consecutive weeks. They will have the flexibility to use the app wherever and whenever they would like with researchers being able to measure meta-data for adherence to using the smartphone application. The intervention involves short video clips in the form of animations, shared experience videos, actor videos, and expert videos displaying information about different social and emotional processing and positive psychology principles. The content of the videos include a range of different themes from identifying strengths to expressing gratitude to finding wider meaning. Participants rate their mood daily and are presented with one video per day. They answer questions about the videos to earn in-app rewards (e.g., tokens/badges to interact with the app). Challenges are provided throughout the intervention to assist participants in exercising the skills they have learnt and to maximise access building relationships, these are not compulsory but are encouraged. Participants will also be able to access an online, moderated forum where they can discuss the different topics and challenges within the app. These will be moderated by clinicians, researchers, and peer moderators to ensure the safety of the app users.