Co-design of ‘Ways of Being’, a web-based experience to optimise online arts and culture for mental health in young people

Abstract

Aims and method We aimed to co-design an intervention optimising the benefits of online arts and culture for mental health in young people for subsequent testing in a trial. Co-design followed the double diamond phases of design, discover, define, develop and deliver. Results Navigating the views of all co-designers to produce a testable resource demanded in-depth understanding, and frequent iterations in multiple modalities of the theoretical basis of the intervention, amplification of youth voice and commitment to a common goal. Clinical implications Co-design with a broad range of collaborators with a shared vision was valued by young co-designers and produced an effective intervention. Co-design allowed the theoretical basis to be followed and refined to create an engaging, practical and testable web experience, aiming to optimise the mental health benefits of online arts and culture for young people in a randomised controlled trial.