title: 'SMS' for mental health—feasibility and acceptability of using text messages for mental health promotion among young women from urban low income settings in India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The current study assesses the acceptability and feasibility of mobile text messages for promoting positive mental health and as a helpline among young women in urban slums of Bangalore.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty girls in the age range of 16-18 years from urban slums received messages every day for a month. They could call or message back or give a 'missed call' to the same number whenever they had emotional problems or felt like talking to a counselor. The received responses in the form of return texts, missed calls and return phone calls were recorded. Feedback about the feasibility and acceptability of the mobile messages was collected after a month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25 out of 40 (62.5%) participants called back, asking for mental health services and to say they felt good about the messages. 23 of 40 (57.5%) messaged back regarding their feelings. 62% reported that they felt supported with the mental health messages. Male family members of nearly half of the participants called back to check the authenticity of the source. Most women did not face any problems because of the messages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot qualitative study indicates that mobile text messages are a feasible and culturally acceptable method for mental health promotion and prevention among young women from urban slums in India. Issues such as consent from the woman and family, ensuring confidentiality and providing authentic and reliable support services, need to be taken into account before attempting to scale up such a service, particularly in vulnerable groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India. Electronic address: chandra@nimhans.kar.nic.in.
authors.forename: Prabha S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Sowmya
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehrotra
authors.affiliation: Policy Center for Biomedical Research, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, (Under DBT, GoI) National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duggal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060145:Text Messaging; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Gender; India; Mental health promotion; Mobile phone; mHealth