ParentApp

Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH)

ParentApp

Promoting child and adult mental health through tech-based parenting support at scale

Oxford, UK

GBR

Nonprofit

Globally, 1-in-7 adolescents and 1-in-5 adults experience mental health conditions (UNICEF, 2021). Over 85% of the world’s population lives in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which carry more than 80% of the global burden of mental health conditions (Rathod et al., 2017). Poor caregiver and child mental health is driven by poverty, violence, parental mental illness, lack of support, and limited access to services. Contributing factors include child disabilities, harsh parenting, community conflict, and structural inequalities. These risks often co-occur, compounding their impact and increasing intergenerational vulnerability. Poor caregiver mental health is closely linked to harsh parenting and child maltreatment, while children exposed to adversity face heightened risks of emotional and behavioural disorders (Wolicki et al., 2011). The economic impact on poor mental health is staggering, with an estimated cost of $1 trillion USD annually in lost productivity (WHO, 2016). Nonetheless, investment in mental health remains disproportionately low, with under 1% of national health budgets allocated to mental health in many low-income countries (Patel et al., 2018). Parenting programmes that support positive parent-child relationships have been shown to reduce caregiver and child mental health problems (WHO, 2023). However, typically they cost hundreds of dollars per family to deliver, making them too expensive to deliver at scale.

Parenting for Lifelong Health has developed a cost-effective, scalable tech-based solution called ParentApp which delivers evidence-based parenting support for less than $6USD per person. This free, offline-first mobile application was co-designed with and for Sub-Saharan African families of children ages 2 to 17 years for users with basic smartphones living in areas of low internet connectivity. Content is delivered through 12 interactive modules customised for specific caregiver gender, child age, and personal goals. The modules focus on positive parent-child relationships, stress management and problem-solving skills, non-violent approaches to discipline, and child safety. Core content is combined with mindfulness-based techniques, interactive parent-child learning activities, and scheduled push notification reminders. Caregivers are also encouraged to apply the skills they have learnt with their children through home practice. Other features include a habit-tracking tool where caregivers log activities and positive parenting behaviours, and a library that provides instant access to resources such as essential parenting tips and activities, information on local support, and technical support. ParentApp can be delivered digitally or in a hybrid format with support from a facilitator (demo: https://plh-teens-tz.web.app/).

PLH supports low-income families with children aged 2 to 17—particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and conflict-affected settings—who face high stress, limited access to mental health services, and ongoing exposure to violence and economic hardship. These families are often overlooked by traditional systems and have few affordable or accessible options for parenting or mental health support (Rathod et al., 2017). ParentApp empowers parents with skills to reduce stress, improve parent-child relationships, and support children’s mental health while promoting positive behaviours. Parents are typically introduced to ParentApp through an onboarding session led by a trained facilitator who explains how to access and interact with the tech-based solution. The self-led modules include topics on parent self-care, one-on-one time, positive reinforcement, managing stress, establishing rules and routines, nonviolent discipline, online and in-person child safety, problem solving, and sexual violence prevention. Parents also participate in facilitated WhatsApp groups to address challenges and build community support. A recent cluster trial in Tanzania (N=4800) showed reduced adult and child depression, parenting stress, and exposure to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, while increasing positive parenting, parent-child communication, social support, and equitable gender attitudes and behaviours in comparison to controls.