AI-INFORMED PEER-MENTORING BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION PRIMARY PREVENTION IN YOUTH

Adolescence and young adulthood (12-25 years) represent critical developmental periods during which lifestyle patterns related to nutrition, physical activity, sleep, digital media use, social interaction, and stress regulation are consolidated and often persist into adulthood. Preventive interventions targeting these stages therefore offer substantial potential for long-term reduction of non-communicable disease (NCD) burden.

Although young people are often perceived as generally healthy, epidemiological evidence indicates a growing burden of NCD-related conditions in this population. More specifically, in terms of mental health conditions, anxiety and depressive disorders have risen sharply during the last decades, with depression rates among young people increasing by approximately 50% since 1990, contributing to impaired quality of life and increased risk of comorbid physical health problems. A substantial body of evidence links anxiety and depression risk to modifiable lifestyle and psychosocial behaviours established early in life, and behavioural interventions addressing these factors have demonstrated promising effects in young populations. However, existing interventions often show wide variability in design and outcomes and face persistent challenges related to long-term adherence, scalability, and equitable access. Many rely on professional-led delivery models requiring substantial human and financial resources, limiting their sustainability and reach, particularly in low-resource or geographically remote settings.

Digital health interventions have emerged as a promising means to improve accessibility and engagement while supporting self-monitoring and feedback. Digital approaches have demonstrated positive effects on behaviours related to physical activity, diet, sleep and stress management. Nevertheless, many digital interventions remain largely individualised and screen-centric, insufficiently leveraging the social environments in which young people's behaviours are embedded, which may limit sustained engagement and long-term behaviour change.

In this context, peer mentoring represents a promising, yet, underutilised approach for strengthening behavioural self-management and primary NCD prevention among adolescents and young adults. Peer mentoring involves structured, supportive relationships in which individuals with shared or similar lived experiences provide guidance, encouragement, and role modelling. During adolescence and young adulthood, peers exert a strong influence on attitudes, norms, motivation, and behaviour. Peer-led approaches are often perceived as more relatable, credible, and emotionally safe than authority- or expert-led interventions, fostering trust, social connectedness, and intrinsic motivation. Peer mentoring programmes have demonstrated effectiveness in promoting healthy behaviours and psychosocial outcomes in youth, particularly in school-based and community settings.

Peer mentoring aligns closely with contemporary self-management models by promoting active participation, shared responsibility, and empowerment rather than passive receipt of advice. In the context of NCD prevention, it can support the adoption and maintenance of health-promoting behaviours by embedding behaviour change within everyday social interactions and reinforcing positive social norms. Importantly, peer mentoring complements professional care, extending the reach and sustainability of preventive interventions.

In this context, the present clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of a behavioral intervention program to prevent the development of anxiety and depressive disorders in young people aged 12-25 by promoting sustained health-protective behaviours through structured peer mentoring, supported by non-invasive digital technologies and AI-enabled personalisation . The intervention focuses on improving stress management and enhancing social competence and engagement thus proactively empowering young people to self-manage behavioural risk factors before they evolve into long-term health conditions. The AI-informed peer-mentoring intervention will be compared to standard peer mentoring and health educational intervention.