Mightier and Magellan Health Launch NIMH-Funded Research to Improve Outcomes in Children’s Mental Health through the Use of Video Games (press release):
Mightier, provider of a ground-breaking video game system for teaching children emotional regulation, today announced the company has been awarded a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to support research on the impact of video games on improving children’s mental health.
Mightier is collaborating with Magellan Healthcare, the behavioral and specialty healthcare segment of Magellan Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGLN) on this landmark study to understand how the introduction of digital tools can increase access to care, improve outcomes, and reduce costs for children and their families … This next study, supported with NIMH funding, will examine the impact of the Mightier games on improving the lives of children with a broader range of mental health disorders, such as ADHD, anxiety and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Enrollment is now underway throughout the Magellan network. Magellan expects to recruit 200 members of commercial health plans with a wide variety of mental health conditions.
“The COVID-19 pandemic set off a wave of mental health issues for children across the country. Even with the availability of a vaccine, stress and anxiety caused by the uncertainty in their lives will linger, at a time when availability of mental health services is minimal, particularly in rural communities. This study’s goal is to validate that digital tools like Mightier can improve health outcomes, lower the cost of care and increase access to mental healthcare” said Matthew Miller, senior vice president, behavioral health, Magellan Healthcare.
About the grant:
The research is supported by the National Institute Of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44MH124574. The NIMH supports scientists, clinicians, and research personnel at universities, medical schools, hospitals, small businesses, and other institutions via grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Researchers at NIMH-supported institutions conduct basic, translational, and applied research to advance NIMH’s mission. Learn more about NIMH-supported research areas, resources, policies and procedures, and the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework.
News in Context:
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- Virtual-reality gaming + affordable biofeedback = Anxiety therapy for all?
- Six tips to build resilience and prevent brain-damaging stress
- Three ways to protect your mental health during –and after– COVID-19